8-K
Fossil Group, Inc. (FOSL)
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 13, 2025

FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| Delaware | 001-41040 | 75-2018505 |
|---|---|---|
| (State or Other Jurisdiction<br> <br>of Incorporation) | (Commission<br> <br>File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer<br> <br>Identification Number) |
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
(972) 234-2525
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
|---|---|
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| --- | --- |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading<br> <br>Symbol | Name of each exchange<br> <br>on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | FOSL | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
| 7.00% Senior Notes due 2026 | FOSLL | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
|---|
On November 13, 2025 (the “Closing Date”), following the occurrence of the “Restructuring Effective Date” in relation to the Restructuring Plan (as defined herein), Fossil Group, Inc. (the “Company”) consummated the previously announced offer to exchange (the “Exchange Offer”) its 7.00% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Old Notes”) and its concurrent rights offering (the “Rights Offering”) pursuant to a restructuring plan under Part 26A of the UK Companies Act 2006 (as amended) (the “Restructuring Plan” and together with the Exchange Offer and the Rights Offering, the “Transactions”). In connection with the consummation of the Transactions:
| • | Noteholders that participated in the Rights Offering and Exchange Offer (the “New Money Participants”) (i) provided an aggregate of $32,500,000 of incremental, new money financing in exchange for (x) $32,500,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.500% First-Out First Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029 (the “First-Out Notes”) and (y) 954,070 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 (“Common Stock”), (ii) exchanged $120,229,725 aggregate principal amount of Old Notes on a dollar-for-dollar basis for $120,229,725 aggregate principal amount of First-Out Notes, and (iii) received $945,946 aggregate principal amount of First-Out Notes as a consent premium pursuant to the terms of the Transactions (the “Consent Premium”). |
|---|---|
| • | Noteholders that did not participate in the Rights Offering (the “Non-New Money Participants”) (i) received $29,770,275 aggregate principal amount of Second-Out Second Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Second-Out Notes”) on a dollar-for-dollar basis for $29,770,275 Old Notes held by such Non-New Money Participants, and (ii) received $53,858 aggregate principal amount of Second-Out Notes as a Consent Premium. Only Non-New Money Participants that tendered their Old Notes in the Exchange Offer and consented to the Restructuring Plan received the Consent Premium. |
| --- | --- |
| • | Noteholders also received an aggregate total of approximately 3,000,000 warrants (the “Warrants”), entitling the holders thereof to purchase either (i) one share of Common Stock for each Warrant held, or (ii) one pre-funded warrant (each, a “Pre-Funded Warrant”) for each Warrant held, each such Pre-Funded Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock. |
| --- | --- |
| • | As a result of the Restructuring Plan, all $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Old Notes outstanding have been cancelled. |
| --- | --- |
Certain supporting noteholders (the “Supporting Holders”) party to the Transaction Support Agreement dated August 13, 2025 (the “Transaction Support Agreement”), among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and the Supporting Holders participated in the Transactions on a private placement basis. In accordance with the terms of the Transaction Support Agreement, the Supporting Holders received $1,625,000 aggregate principal amount of First-Out Notes as a backstop premium as consideration for providing a backstop commitment for the Rights Offering.
First-Out Notes Indenture
Interest, Guarantees and Security
The First-Out Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “First-Out Notes Indenture”), dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Company, as issuer, the guarantors party thereto (the “Guarantors”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “First-Out Notes Collateral Agent”).
The First-Out Notes will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to 9.500%, payable in cash quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year, commencing on March 15, 2026. The interest rate on the First-Out Notes is subject to an immediate increase upon the occurrence of a Borrowing Base Overage (as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture) by an additional 2.00% (with such increase being solely in the form of payment in kind interest) with respect to all remaining days in such interest period during which such Borrowing Base Overage has occurred and is outstanding.
The First-Out Notes will mature on January 1, 2029, unless redeemed in full prior to such maturity date, pursuant to the terms contained in the First-Out Notes Indenture.
The Company’s obligations under the First-Out Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the Company and each of the Company’s subsidiaries that are borrowers or guarantee the Company’s obligations under the ABL Credit Agreement (as defined herein) or the Second-Out Notes Indenture (as defined herein), as well as all of the Company’s future subsidiaries that become a borrower with respect to or guarantee the Company’s or any of the Company’s subsidiaries other material indebtedness, including under the ABL Credit Agreement and the Second-Out Notes Indenture.
The First-Out Notes are secured by liens on all or substantially all assets of the Company and the Guarantors, including first-priority liens on Notes Priority Collateral (as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture) and second-priority liens on ABL Priority Collateral (as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture), in each case, to the maximum extent permitted by law, subject to certain guaranty and security principles and any applicable intercreditor agreement.
Redemption
The Company may, at its option, redeem some or all of the First-Out Notes at any time at a redemption price equal to 107.500% of the principal amount of the First-Out Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the First-Out Notes being redeemed to, but not including, the applicable redemption date.
Change of Control
If a Change of Control (as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture) occurs, the Company is required to make an offer to purchase all of the First-Out Notes at a purchase price equal to 107.500% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of purchase.
Covenants and Events of Default
The First-Out Notes Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) incur, assume or guarantee additional debt, or issue disqualified stock or preferred stock; (ii) pay dividends, make other distributions or repurchase equity; (iii) make certain investments and other restricted payments; (iv) enter into transactions with affiliates; (v) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist liens; (vi) sell or otherwise dispose of certain assets to third parties; (vii) consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of their assets; and (viii) create restrictions on the ability of certain subsidiaries to pay dividends and make other payments to the Company or the Guarantors. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. The First-Out Notes Indenture also provides for events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding First-Out Notes to be due and payable immediately.
The First-Out Notes issued to the Supporting Holders have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the applicable registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
The foregoing summary of the First-Out Notes Indenture and the First-Out Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the First-Out Notes Indenture and the form of First-Out Note attached hereto as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively and incorporated herein by reference.
Second-Out Notes Indenture
Interest, Guarantees and Security
The Second-Out Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Second-Out Notes Indenture”), dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Company, as issuer, the Guarantors and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent”).
The Second-Out Notes will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to 7.500%, payable in cash quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year, commencing on March 15, 2026.
The Second-Out Notes will mature on June 30, 2029, unless redeemed in full prior to such maturity date, pursuant to the terms contained in the Second-Out Notes Indenture.
The Company’s obligations under the Second-Out Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the Company and each of the Company’s subsidiaries that are borrowers or guarantee the Company’s obligations under the ABL Credit Agreement or the First-Out Notes Indenture, as well as all of the Company’s future subsidiaries that become a borrower with respect to or guarantee the Company’s or any of the Company’s subsidiaries other material indebtedness, including under the ABL Credit Agreement and the First-Out Notes Indenture.
The Second-Out Notes are secured by liens on all or substantially all assets of the Company and the Guarantors, including second-priority liens on Notes Priority Collateral and third-priority liens on ABL Priority Collateral, in each case, to the maximum extent permitted by law, subject to certain guaranty and security principles and any applicable intercreditor agreement.
Redemption
The Company may, at its option, redeem some or all of the Second-Out Notes at any time at a redemption price equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of the Second-Out Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Second-Out Notes being redeemed to, but not including, the applicable redemption date.
Change of Control
If a Change of Control (as defined in the Second-Out Notes Indenture) occurs, the Company is required to make an offer to purchase all of the Second-Out Notes at a purchase price equal to 100.000% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of purchase.
Covenants and Events of Default
The Second-Out Notes Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) incur, assume or guarantee additional debt, or issue disqualified stock or preferred stock; (ii) pay dividends, make other distributions or repurchase equity; (iii) make certain investments and other restricted payments; (iv) enter into transactions with affiliates; (v) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist liens; (vi) sell or otherwise dispose of certain assets to third parties; (vii) consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of their assets; and (viii) create restrictions on the ability of certain subsidiaries to pay dividends and make other payments to the Company or the Guarantors. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. The Second-Out Notes Indenture also provides for events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Second-Out Notes to be due and payable immediately.
The foregoing summary of the Second-Out Notes Indenture and the Second-Out Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the First-Out Notes Indenture and the form of Second-Out Note attached hereto as Exhibits 4.3 and 4.4, respectively and incorporated herein by reference.
ABL Intercreditor Agreement
On the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors, ACF FINCO I LP, as administrative agent on behalf of the lenders under the ABL Credit Agreement (the “ABL Agent”), the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent entered into an Intercreditor Agreement (the “ABL Intercreditor Agreement”) to govern the relative priorities of the security interests of the ABL Agent, the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent in the collateral granted by the Company and Guarantors and certain other matters related to the administration of security interests.
The foregoing summary of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
First Out/Second Out Intercreditor Agreement
On the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors, the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent entered into an Intercreditor Agreement (the “First Out/Second Out Intercreditor Agreement”) to govern the relative priorities of the security interests of the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent in the collateral granted by the Company and the Guarantors and certain other matters related to the administration of security interests.
The foregoing summary of the First Out/Second Out Intercreditor Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the First Out/Second Out Intercreditor Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.
ABL Amendment
On the Closing Date, the Company entered into a First Amendment (the “ABL Amendment”) to its Credit Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2025, among the Company, the Guarantors and ACF FINCO I LP, as administrative agent (the “ABL Credit Agreement”) in order to effectuate certain conforming amendments to the ABL Credit Agreement to the terms of the First-Out Notes Indenture, as further described in the ABL Amendment.
The foregoing summary of the ABL Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the ABL Amendment attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference.
Warrant Agency Agreement
The Warrants were issued, and any Pre-Funded Warrants to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants will be issued, pursuant to a warrant agency agreement (the “Warrant Agency Agreement”) dated as of the Closing Date by and among the Company and Computershare Inc. and its affiliate Computershare Trust Company, N.A., together as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”).
Warrants
The Warrants will be exercisable at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 15, 2025. The Warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to the Warrant Agent a duly executed exercise notice and by payment of the applicable exercise price in full in immediately available funds of the applicable aggregate exercise price for the number of shares of Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants purchased upon such exercise.
The exercise price per whole share of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is $0.50 per share (the “Common Stock Exercise Price”). The exercise price per whole Pre-Funded Warrant purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is $0.49 per Pre-Funded Warrant (the “Pre-Funded Warrant Exercise Price”). The Common Stock Exercise Price and Pre-Funded Warrant Exercise Price are subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting shares of Common Stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to all of our shareholders.
A holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Warrants into shares of Common Stock if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”), as such holder’s pro rata portion of ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from such holder to the Company, provided that in no event will the Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 19.99%.
Warrant holders will not have the rights or privileges of a holder of shares of Common Stock with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying such Warrants, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises such Warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock.
Pre-Funded Warrants
The Pre-Funded Warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to the Warrant Agent a duly executed exercise notice and by payment of the applicable exercise price in full in immediately available funds of the aggregate exercise price for the number of shares of Common Stock purchased upon such exercise.
Each Pre-Funded Warrant is exercisable for one share of Common Stock. The exercise price per whole share of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants is $0.01 per share. The Pre-Funded Warrants may be exercised at any time on or after the date of issuance and do not have an expiration date.
A holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Pre-Funded Warrants if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, as such holder’s pro rata portion of ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Pre-Funded Warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation upon at least 61 days’ prior notice from such holder to us, provided that in no event will the Beneficial Ownership Limitation exceed 19.99%.
Pre-Funded Warrant holders will not have the rights or privileges of a holder of shares of our Common Stock with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying such Pre-Funded Warrants, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises such Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase shares of our Common Stock.
The Warrants issued to the Supporting Holders, and the Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants (including the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants) issuable to the Supporting Holders upon exercise of the Warrants, have not been registered under the Securities Act, or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the applicable registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
The foregoing summary of the Warrant Agency Agreement, the Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Warrant Agency Agreement, the form of Warrant and the form of Pre-Funded Warrant attached hereto as Exhibit 4.6, 4.7 and 4.8, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
|---|
The disclosure set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
| Item 3.02 | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
|---|
The disclosure set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.
Pursuant to the Transactions, the Company issued 792,772 shares of Common Stock and 1,897,073 Warrants to the Supporting Holders on a private placement basis exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof. The Common Stock and the Pre-Funded Warrants (including the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants) issuable upon exercise of the Warrants will, if issued, be issued on a private placement basis exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof.
| Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
|---|
On the Closing Date, all $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Old Notes outstanding have been cancelled.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
|---|
(d) Exhibits
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains statements that are not purely historical and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “target,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim” “seek,” “believe,” “continue,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “could” or “should” or other words of similar meaning. There are several factors which could cause the Company’s actual plans and results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements and these forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date hereof and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks related to the success of our restructuring and turnaround plans; risks related to strengthening our balance sheet and liquidity and improving working capital; risks related to our planned non-core asset sales; increased political uncertainty; the effect of worldwide economic conditions, including recessionary risks; the effect of pandemics; the impact of any activist shareholders; the failure to meet the continued listing requirements of NASDAQ; significant changes in consumer spending patterns or preferences and lower levels of consumer spending resulting from inflation, a general economic downturn or generally reduced shopping activity caused by public safety or consumer confidence concerns; interruptions or delays in the supply of key components or products; acts of war or acts of terrorism; loss of key facilities; a data security or privacy breach or information systems disruptions; changes in foreign currency valuations in relation to the U.S. dollar; the performance of our products within the prevailing retail environment; customer acceptance of both new designs and newly-introduced product lines; changes in the mix of product sales; the effects of vigorous competition in the markets in which we operate; compliance with debt covenants and other contractual provisions and our ability to meet debt service obligations; risks related to the success of our business strategy; the termination or non-renewal of material licenses; risks related to foreign operations and manufacturing; changes in the costs of materials and labor; government regulation and tariffs; our ability to secure and protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights; levels of traffic to and management of our retail stores; the significant costs incurred by us in connection with the Transactions; our inability to comply with the restrictive debt covenants contained in the new notes issued in connection with the Transactions; and loss of key personnel or failure to attract and retain key employees and the outcome of current and possible future litigation. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements and risk factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2025, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 15, 2025, August 14, 2025 and November 13, 2025, and subsequent filings with the SEC, which can be found at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. For the reasons described above, we caution you against relying on any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this report speaks only as of the date on which we make it. Factors or events that could cause actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. No recipient should, therefore, rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of the Company or its management as of any date subsequent to the date of this report.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| FOSSIL GROUP INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Randy S. Hyne |
| Name: Randy S. Hyne | |
| Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
Date: November 13, 2025
EX-4.1
Exhibit 4.1
SENIOR SECURED NOTES INDENTURE
dated as of November 13, 2025
among
FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent
9.500% FIRST-OUT FIRST LIEN SECURED SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
| Trust Indenture ActSection | Indenture Section |
|---|---|
| 310(a)(1) | 7.11 |
| (a)(2) | 7.11 |
| (a)(3) | N.A |
| (a)(4) | N.A |
| (a)(5) | 7.11 |
| (b) | 7.11 |
| 311(a) | 7.12 |
| (b) | 7.12 |
| 312(a) | 2.06 |
| (b) | 2.06; 13.03 |
| (c) | 13.03 |
| 313(a) | 7.06 |
| (b) | 11.07 |
| (b)(2) | 7.06; 7.07 |
| (c) | 7.06; 13.02 |
| (d) | 7.06 |
| 314(a) | 4.06; 13.02; 13.05 |
| (b) | 11.07 |
| (c)(1) | 13.04 |
| (c)(2) | 13.04 |
| (c)(3) | N.A. |
| (d) | 11.07 |
| (e) | 13.05 |
| (f) | N.A. |
| 315(a) | 7.01 |
| (b) | 7.05; 13.02 |
| (c) | 7.01 |
| (d) | 7.01 |
| (e) | 6.14 |
| 316(a)(last sentence) | 2.10 |
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.05 |
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.04 |
| (a)(2) | N.A. |
| (b) | 6.07 |
| (c) | 1.05; 2.13; 9.04 |
| 317(a)(1) | 6.08 |
| (a)(2) | 6.12 |
| (b) | 2.05 |
| 318(a) | 13.01 |
| (b) | N.A. |
| (c) | 13.01 |
N.A. means not applicable.
* This Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | ||
| Section 1.01. | Definitions | 1 | |
| Section 1.02. | Other Definitions | 42 | |
| Section 1.03. | Rules of Construction | 43 | |
| Section 1.04. | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 44 | |
| Section 1.05. | Acts of Holders | 44 | |
| Section 1.06. | Quebec Interpretive Provisions | 46 | |
| Section 1.07. | [Reserved] | 47 | |
| Section 1.08. | Dutch Terms | 47 | |
| ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES | 48 | ||
| Section 2.01. | Amount of Notes | 48 | |
| Section 2.02. | Form and Dating; Terms | 49 | |
| Section 2.03. | Execution and Authentication | 49 | |
| Section 2.04. | Registrar and Paying Agent | 50 | |
| Section 2.05. | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 50 | |
| Section 2.06. | Holder Lists | 51 | |
| Section 2.07. | Transfer and Exchange | 51 | |
| Section 2.08. | Replacement Notes | 52 | |
| Section 2.09. | Outstanding Notes | 52 | |
| Section 2.10. | Treasury Notes | 53 | |
| Section 2.11. | Temporary Notes | 53 | |
| Section 2.12. | Cancellation | 53 | |
| Section 2.13. | Defaulted Interest | 53 | |
| Section 2.14. | CUSIP and ISIN Numbers | 54 | |
| ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION | 54 | ||
| Section 3.01. | Notices to Trustee | 54 | |
| Section 3.02. | Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased | 54 | |
| Section 3.03. | Notice of Redemption | 55 | |
| Section 3.04. | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 56 | |
| Section 3.05. | Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price | 56 | |
| Section 3.06. | Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part | 57 | |
| Section 3.07. | Optional Redemption | 57 | |
| Section 3.08. | Mandatory Redemption | 57 | |
| Section 3.09. | [Reserved] | 57 | |
| Section 3.10. | Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds | 57 | |
| ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS | 60 | ||
| Section 4.01. | Payment of Notes | 60 | |
| Section 4.02. | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 60 | |
| Section 4.03. | Taxes | 61 | |
| Section 4.04. | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 61 | |
| Section 4.05. | Corporate Existence | 61 | |
| Section 4.06. | Reports and Other Information | 61 | |
| Section 4.07. | Compliance Certificate | 62 | |
| Section 4.08. | Limitation on Restricted Payments | 63 |
-i-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 4.09. | Limitation on Indebtedness | 65 | |
| Section 4.10. | Limitation on Liens | 69 | |
| Section 4.11. | Future Guarantors | 69 | |
| Section 4.12. | Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions From Subsidiaries | 70 | |
| Section 4.13. | [Reserved] | 72 | |
| Section 4.14. | Transactions with Affiliates | 72 | |
| Section 4.15. | Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control | 72 | |
| Section 4.16. | Asset Dispositions | 74 | |
| Section 4.17. | [Reserved] | 76 | |
| Section 4.18. | Deposit Accounts | 76 | |
| Section 4.19. | [Reserved] | 76 | |
| Section 4.20. | Collateral and Guarantee Requirement | 76 | |
| ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS | 77 | ||
| Section 5.01. | Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets | 77 | |
| ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 79 | ||
| Section 6.01. | Events of Default | 79 | |
| Section 6.02. | Acceleration | 82 | |
| Section 6.03. | Other Remedies | 83 | |
| Section 6.04. | Waiver of Past Defaults | 83 | |
| Section 6.05. | Control by Majority | 84 | |
| Section 6.06. | Limitation on Suits | 84 | |
| Section 6.07. | Rights of Holders to Receive Payment | 84 | |
| Section 6.08. | Collection Suit by Trustee | 84 | |
| Section 6.09. | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 85 | |
| Section 6.10. | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 85 | |
| Section 6.11. | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 85 | |
| Section 6.12. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 85 | |
| Section 6.13. | Priorities | 86 | |
| Section 6.14. | Undertaking for Costs | 86 | |
| ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT | 87 | ||
| Section 7.01. | Duties of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent | 87 | |
| Section 7.02. | Rights of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent | 88 | |
| Section 7.03. | Individual Rights of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent | 90 | |
| Section 7.04. | Disclaimer | 91 | |
| Section 7.05. | Notice of Defaults | 91 | |
| Section 7.06. | Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes | 91 | |
| Section 7.07. | Compensation and Indemnity | 91 | |
| Section 7.08. | Appointment of the Notes Collateral Agent | 92 | |
| Section 7.09. | Replacement of Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent | 94 | |
| Section 7.10. | Successor by Merger, etc | 96 | |
| Section 7.11. | Eligibility; Disqualification | 96 | |
| Section 7.12. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company | 96 | |
| Section 7.13. | Collateral Documents; Intercreditor Agreements | 96 | |
| ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE | 96 | ||
| Section 8.01. | Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 96 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 8.02. | Legal Defeasance and Discharge | 97 | |
| Section 8.03. | Covenant Defeasance | 97 | |
| Section 8.04. | Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance | 98 | |
| Section 8.05. | Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 99 | |
| Section 8.06. | Repayment to the Company | 99 | |
| Section 8.07. | Reinstatement | 100 | |
| ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER | 100 | ||
| Section 9.01. | Without Consent of Holders | 100 | |
| Section 9.02. | With Consent of Holders | 103 | |
| Section 9.03. | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 105 | |
| Section 9.04. | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 105 | |
| Section 9.05. | Notation on or Exchange of Notes | 105 | |
| Section 9.06. | Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments, etc. | 105 | |
| Section 9.07. | Actions by Consenting Noteholders | 106 | |
| ARTICLE 10 GUARANTEES | 106 | ||
| Section 10.01. | Guarantee | 106 | |
| Section 10.02. | Limitation on Guarantor Liability | 108 | |
| Section 10.03. | Execution and Delivery | 113 | |
| Section 10.04. | Subrogation | 113 | |
| Section 10.05. | Benefits Acknowledged | 113 | |
| Section 10.06. | Release of Note Guarantees | 113 | |
| ARTICLE 11 COLLATERAL AND SECURITY | 114 | ||
| Section 11.01. | Collateral | 114 | |
| Section 11.02. | Maintenance of Collateral | 116 | |
| Section 11.03. | Impairment of Collateral | 116 | |
| Section 11.04. | Further Assurances | 116 | |
| Section 11.05. | After-Acquired Property | 117 | |
| Section 11.06. | Real Estate Mortgages and Filings | 117 | |
| Section 11.07. | Release of Liens on the Collateral | 118 | |
| Section 11.08. | Information Regarding Collateral | 120 | |
| Section 11.09. | Collateral Documents and Intercreditor Agreements | 120 | |
| Section 11.10. | Suits to Protect the Collateral | 120 | |
| Section 11.11. | Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents | 121 | |
| Section 11.12. | Purchaser Protected | 121 | |
| Section 11.13. | Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee | 121 | |
| ARTICLE 12 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 121 | ||
| Section 12.01. | Satisfaction and Discharge | 121 | |
| Section 12.02. | Application of Trust Money | 122 | |
| ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS | 123 | ||
| Section 13.01. | Trust Indenture Act Controls | 123 | |
| Section 13.02. | Notices | 123 | |
| Section 13.03. | Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 124 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 13.04. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 124 | |
| Section 13.05. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 125 | |
| Section 13.06. | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 125 | |
| Section 13.07. | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members, Partners and Shareholders | 125 | |
| Section 13.08. | Governing Law | 125 | |
| Section 13.09. | Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial | 125 | |
| Section 13.10. | Force Majeure | 126 | |
| Section 13.11. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 126 | |
| Section 13.12. | Successors | 126 | |
| Section 13.13. | Severability | 126 | |
| Section 13.14. | Counterpart Originals | 126 | |
| Section 13.15. | Table of Contents, Headings, etc | 127 | |
| Section 13.16. | PDF Delivery of Signature Pages | 127 | |
| Section 13.17. | U.S.A. PATRIOT Act | 127 | |
| Section 13.18. | Payments Due on Non-Business Days | 127 | |
| Section 13.20. | Parallel Debt; Parallel Debt Owed to the Notes Collateral Agent | 127 | |
| Section 13.21. | Judgment Currency | 129 |
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| Appendix A | Provisions Relating to Notes |
|---|---|
| Appendix B | Post-Closing Matters |
| Form of | |
| Exhibit A | Note |
| Exhibit B | Institutional Accredited Investor Transferee Letter of Representation |
| Exhibit C | Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors |
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INDENTURE, dated as of November 13, 2025 among Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and notes collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Notes Collateral Agent”).
WI T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the creation of and issue of $155,300,675 aggregate principal amount of 9.500% First-Out First Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Initial Notes”) (provided that the principal amount of the Initial Notes authorized and outstanding may be increased in connection with PIK Interest (as defined below)); and
WHEREAS, the Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.
“2026 Notes” means the Company’s 7.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 issued pursuant to the 2026 Notes Indenture.
“2026 Notes Indenture” means that certain indenture, dated as of November 8, 2021, among the Company, as issuer, and the 2026 Notes Trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of November 8, 2021, and as further amended, amended and restated, or supplemented from time to time, relating to the 2026 Notes.
“2026 Notes Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., until such time, if any, that a successor replaces such party in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 2026 Notes Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving thereunder.
“ABL Agreement” means the collective reference to (a) the ABL Credit Agreement or any other credit agreement governing the ABL Facility, (b) any Additional ABL Agreement and (c) any other credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Indebtedness or other financial accommodation that has been Incurred to extend, replace, refinance or refund in whole or in part the Indebtedness and other obligations outstanding under the ABL Facility (regardless of whether such replacement, refunding or refinancing is a “working capital” facility, asset-based facility or otherwise), any Additional ABL Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred to in this clause (c) unless such agreement or instrument expressly provides that it is not intended to be and is not an ABL Agreement hereunder (a “Replacement ABL Agreement”). Any reference to the ABL Agreement hereunder shall be deemed a reference to any ABL Agreement then extant.
“ABL Collateral Agent” means (a) in the case of any ABL Priority Collateral owned or hereinafter acquired by any ABL Loan Party, ACF FINCO I LP (together with its successors and permitted assigns),
as collateral agent for the ABL Secured Parties and (b) in the case of any Replacement ABL Agreement or any other ABL Agreement, the Person identified as such in such agreement.
“ABL Credit Agreement” means (a) that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2025, among the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries, the ABL Facility Administrative Agent, the ABL Collateral Agent party thereto, and the lenders parties thereto from time to time, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time (including increasing the amount loaned thereunder), and including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified or refinanced from time to time, and (if designated by the Company) as replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or refinanced (in whole or in part) from time to time, including (if designated by the Company) by any agreement or indenture or commercial paper facility with banks or other institutional lenders or investors extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder expressly permitted by Section 4.09 or adding Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders, (b) any other agreement, agreements, debt facility or other financing arrangement that is otherwise expressly permitted by Section 4.09 and (c) any other documents governing Indebtedness under any Additional ABL Agreement.
“ABL Creditors” means collectively, the “Lenders” and the “Secured Parties,” each as defined in the ABL Agreement or any Persons that are designated under the ABL Agreement as the “ABL Creditors” for purposes of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
“ABL Documents” means, collectively, the ABL Credit Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing other ABL Indebtedness and ABL Security Documents related to the foregoing.
“ABL Facility” means any credit facility established by the ABL Credit Agreement and the other ABL Documents.
“ABL Facility Administrative Agent” means, initially, ACF FINCO I LP in its capacity as the administrative agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, or any successor representative acting in such capacity and any other agent or other representative under the ABL Documents.
“ABL Indebtedness” means the Obligations in respect of the ABL Facility.
“ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the ABL Collateral Agent, the Notes Collateral Agent, the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent, and each additional agent from time to time party thereto, and acknowledged by the grantors from time to time party thereto, as may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time.
“ABL Loan Parties” means, collectively, the borrowers and guarantors from time to time party to the ABL Documents.
“ABL Obligations” means (a) all principal of and interest (including, without limitation any post-petition interest) and premium (if any) on all loans made pursuant to the ABL Agreement or any ABL DIP Financing (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) by the ABL Creditors, (b) all reimbursement
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obligations (if any) and interest thereon (including without limitation any post-petition interest) with respect to any letter of credit or similar instruments issued pursuant to the ABL Agreement, (c) all Swap Obligations (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), (d) all Banking Services Obligations (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) and (e) all guarantee obligations, indemnities, fees, expenses (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the ABL Representatives (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) or any ABL Creditors) and other amounts payable from time to time pursuant to the ABL Documents, in each case whether or not allowed or allowable in an insolvency proceeding. To the extent any payment with respect to any ABL Obligation (whether by or on behalf of any ABL Loan Party, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be a fraudulent conveyance or a preference in any respect, set aside or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, any Notes Secured Party (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), receiver or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall, for the purposes of this Indenture and the rights and obligations of the ABL Secured Parties and the Notes Secured Parties (as defined in the ABL Agreement), be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.
“ABL Priority Collateral” means all Collateral consisting of the following (including for the avoidance of doubt, any such assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision in any other Bankruptcy Law, would be ABL Priority Collateral):
(1) all Credit Card Receivables, Payment Intangibles, and all Accounts (other than Accounts which constitute identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral);
(2) cash, Money, cash proceeds, and cash equivalents (other than cash, Money, cash proceeds and cash equivalents which constitute identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral);
(3) all (x) Deposit Accounts (other than Notes Priority Accounts that solely contain Notes Priority Collateral) and all Money, cash, cash proceeds, checks, other negotiable instruments, funds and other evidences of payments held therein, including (to the extent owing in respect of ABL Priority Collateral) funds on account of intercompany indebtedness between or among the Note Parties or their Affiliates, (y) Securities Accounts (other than Notes Priority Accounts that solely contain Notes Priority Collateral), Security Entitlements, Financial Assets and Securities credited to such a Securities Account (other than Equity Interests of Note Parties and their Subsidiaries) and (z) Commodity Accounts (other than Notes Priority Accounts that solely contain Notes Priority Collateral or identifiable proceeds of the Notes Priority Collateral) and Commodity Contracts credited thereto, and, in each case, all cash, Money, cash proceeds, cash equivalents, checks and other property held therein or credited thereto; provided, however, that to the extent that identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral are deposited in any such Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, after the delivery of a Notes Cash Proceeds Notice, such identifiable proceeds (to the extent not applied to the repayment of ABL Obligations prior to the receipt of such Notes Cash Proceeds Notice), shall be treated as Notes Priority Collateral so long as such proceeds are in fact Notes Priority Collateral;
(4) all Inventory;
(5) all intercompany indebtedness arising from (x) intercompany advances utilizing proceeds of Loans (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and (y) all intercompany indebtedness arising from intercompany transfers of items referred to in the preceding clauses (1)-(4); provided that to the extent any of the foregoing in this clause (5) also relates to Notes Priority Collateral only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (x) through (y) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;
(6) all proceeds, receivables, products, substitutions or replacements of the Loans (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and other credit extensions made under the ABL Documents;
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(7) at all times prior to the Collateral Designation Date (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), the Specified Collateral;
(8) to the extent relating to, evidencing or governing any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (7) constituting ABL Priority Collateral, all Documents, General Intangibles (including all rights under contracts), Instruments (including the Intercompany Note Documents and other Promissory Notes), Chattel Paper (including Tangible Chattel Paper and Electronic Chattel Paper) and Commercial Tort Claims; provided that to the extent any of the foregoing in this clause (8) also relates to Notes Priority Collateral, only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (7) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;
(9) to the extent relating to any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (8) constituting ABL Priority Collateral, all Supporting Obligations and Letter-of-Credit Rights; provided that to the extent any of the foregoing in this clause (9) also relates to Notes Priority Collateral only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (8) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;
(10) all books and Records relating to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (9) constituting ABL Priority Collateral (including all books, databases, customer lists, engineer drawings, and Records, whether tangible or electronic, which contain any information relating to any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (9) constituting ABL Priority Collateral); and
(11) all collateral security and guarantees with respect to any of the foregoing and, subject to Section 3.7 of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, all cash, Money, cash equivalents, insurance proceeds (including all proceeds of credit insurance and provided that with respect to, proceeds of business interruption insurance, only 50% of such proceeds of business interruption insurance shall constitute ABL Priority Collateral), receivables, products, substitutions, replacements, Instruments, Securities and Financial Assets received as proceeds or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing (such items in this clause (11), the “ABL Priority Proceeds”).
Any capitalized term used in this definition but not otherwise defined herein shall be defined as set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
“ABL Secured Parties” means the ABL Collateral Agent, the ABL Facility Administrative Agent, the ABL Creditors and any other holders of the ABL Obligations.
“ABL SecurityDocuments” means all security agreements, pledge agreements, control agreements, collateral assignments, Mortgages, deeds of trust, security deeds, deeds to secure debt, hypothecs, collateral agency agreements, debentures or other instruments, pledges, grants or transfers for security or agreements related thereto executed and delivered by the Company, any or any Guarantor creating or perfecting (or purporting to create or perfect) a Lien upon Collateral (including, without limitation, financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code) in favor of the ABL Collateral Agent, for the benefit of any of the ABL Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, amended and restated, modified, restated, supplemented or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the applicable ABL Documents subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable.
“Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, (1) Indebtedness of any Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, (2) Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, or (3) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person, in each case whether or not Incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary
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or such acquisition. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been Incurred, with respect to clause (1) of the preceding sentence, on the date such is merged , consolidated or amalgamated with or into such specified Person or becomes a Subsidiary and, with respect to clauses (2) and (3) of the preceding sentence, on the date of consummation of such acquisition of assets.
“Additional ABL Agreement” means any agreement evidencing or governing the incurrence of additional indebtedness that is permitted to be secured by the Collateral securing any ABL Indebtedness on a pari passu basis with other ABL Indebtedness and treated as an ABL Agreement pursuant to the ABL Agreement.
“Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01 and Section 4.09, whether or not they bear the same CUSIP number as the Initial Notes.
“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 the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlledby” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any Person means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“After-Acquired Property” means property (other than Excluded Property) that is intended to be Collateral acquired by the Company or a Guarantor (including property of a Person that becomes a new Guarantor after the Issue Date) that is not automatically subject to a perfected security interest under the Collateral Documents.
“Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.
“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a Note on any date of redemption, repayment, prepayment, acceleration, or maturity, 7.500% of the principal amount of such Note.
“Asset Disposition” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) of any property by any Person (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any issuance of Capital Stock by a Subsidiary of such 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
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Dispositions:
(1) dispositions of assets, including by means of a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or similar transaction, by a Guarantor to the Company or by the Company or a Guarantor to a Guarantor;
(2) dispositions of assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to or less than $5,000,000 in any fiscal year (with the Fair Market Value of each such disposition being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
(3) (i) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business or in connection with cash management activities, (ii) a disposition of inventory or
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equipment in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) dispositions of obsolete, damaged, worn out or surplus assets, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(4) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;
(5) for purposes of Section 4.16 only, the making of a Permitted Investment (other than a Permitted Investment to the extent such transaction results in the receipt of cash or Cash Equivalents by the Company or its Subsidiaries (but excluding any securities, notes or other obligations that are subsequently converted into cash)) or a disposition that is permitted pursuant to Section 4.08;
(6) the creation of a Permitted Lien and dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;
(7) sales, discounts, adjustments or forgiveness of accounts receivable and other contract claims in the ordinary course of business or in connection with collection or compromise thereof and sales of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and not in connection with any financing transaction;
(8) (i) an issuance of Capital Stock by a Subsidiary to the Company or to a wholly owned Subsidiary, and (ii) the issuance by a Subsidiary of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that is expressly permitted by Section 4.09;
(9) (i) the non-exclusive licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles and licenses, leases or subleases of other property, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and (ii) the abandonment or allowance to lapse of intellectual property which, in the case of this clause (ii), in the good faith determination of the Company is not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(10) dispositions of assets subject to any casualty or condemnation proceeding (including in lieu thereof);
(11) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of any contract, tort or other litigation claims;
(12) dispositions of machinery, equipment or other fixed assets to the extent that (i) such assets are exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement assets that are purchased within 180 days, (ii) such assets are exchanged within 180 days for machinery, equipment or other fixed assets having a Fair Market Value equal to or greater than the assets being traded in or (iii) the proceeds of such disposition are applied to the purchase price of replacement assets within 180 days;
(13) [reserved];
(14) sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of intellectual property, inventory and related assets pertaining to the Michele Brand;
(15) [reserved];
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(16) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of real property granted in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Subsidiary to third Persons not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(17) the disposition of any Hedging Obligation in the ordinary course of business; and
(18) dispositions in the ordinary course of business of tangible property as a part of a like kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Code.
For the avoidance of doubt, disposition of assets, including by means of a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or similar transaction, by the Company or any Guarantor to a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, shall not be excluded from the definition of “Asset Disposition” unless made for bona fide business purposes and not in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness.
“Authorized Representative” means in the case of (i) the ABL Facility or the holders of Obligations thereunder, initially, the ABL Facility Administrative Agent, (ii) the 2026 Notes or the holders thereof, the 2026 Notes Trustee, (iii) the Notes or the Holders thereof, the Trustee, (iv) the Second-Out Notes or the holders thereof, the Second-Out Notes Trustee and (v) in the case of any series of additional Secured Indebtedness or the holders thereof that become subject to any Intercreditor Agreement, the Authorized Representative named for such series in the applicable joinder agreement.
“Availability” shall have the meaning and be calculated as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date of the Registration Statement).
“Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) from the date of determination to the date of such payment; by
(2) the sum of the amounts of all such payments.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.
“Bankruptcy Laws” means each of the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the Winding-Up and Restructuring Act (Canada), the United Kingdom’s Insolvency Act 1986, the EU Regulation 2015/848 on insolvency proceedings (recast), the United Kingdom’s Companies Act 2006, the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung) and the Swiss Federal Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Act (Bundesgesetz uber Schuldbetreibung und Konkurs (SchKG)), each as now and hereafter in effect, any successors to such statutes and any other applicable insolvency or other similar law of any jurisdiction, including any corporate law of any jurisdiction permitting a debtor to obtain a stay or a compromise of the claims of its creditors against it and including any rules and regulations pursuant thereto.
“beneficialownership” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, and “beneficial owner” has a corresponding meaning.
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“Board of Directors” means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the Board of Directors of the corporation or (other than for purposes of determining Change of Control) any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership; and
(3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.
“Borrowing Base Overage” means when advances permitted under the Borrowing Base (including components and subcomponents thereof) and advance rates, in each case as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement (as of the date of the Registration Statement) exceed the amount that would have been permitted under the Borrowing Base advance rates as of the date of the Registration Statement (without giving effect to any future step-downs in IP Caps or IP Advance Rates, in each case, as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement as of the date of the Registration Statement).
“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions or trust companies in New York, New York or the jurisdiction of the place of payment are authorized or required by law to close.
“Canadian Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is a Canadian Subsidiary.
“Canadian Security Agreements” means, collectively, that certain Canadian Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Canadian Guarantor and the Notes Collateral Agent, and, as the context requires, any other pledge or security agreement entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any other Canadian Guarantor (as required by this Indenture or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Canadian Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that has been formed or is organized under the laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof.
“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases or financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Indenture, the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock and limited liability or partnership interests (whether general or limited), but excluding any debt securities convertible or exchangeable into such equity.
“Cash Equivalents” means:
(1) U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, Swiss Francs, Pounds Sterling, Japanese Yen, Euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU or, in the case of a
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Foreign Subsidiary, such other local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;
(2) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States Government, the Government of Canada, the UK government, the French government or the Hong Kong government or issued by an agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, the Government of Canada, the UK government, the French government or the Hong Kong government, as the case may be, in each case maturing within two years after the date of acquisition thereof;
(3) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America, or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof, by the Canadian federal government, by the UK government, by the French government or by the Hong Kong government, in each case, maturing within two years after the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, then from such other nationally recognized rating agency);
(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits or bankers’ acceptances issued by any commercial bank having a combined capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million, in the case of U.S. banks, and $100.0 million, in the case of non-U.S. banks;
(5) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;
(6) bonds with an Investment Grade Rating and Preferred Stock issued by Persons with an Investment Grade Rating, including municipal bonds, corporate bonds and treasury bonds;
(7) (i) commercial paper issued by any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above or by the parent company of any such bank, (ii) commercial paper with a short-term commercial paper rating of at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc. or “P-2” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized Rating Agency, if both of the two named Rating Agencies cease publishing ratings of investments, and (iii) marketable short-term money market and similar funds having the equivalent of an Investment Grade Rating ;
(8) interests in any money market fund substantially all of the assets of which are comprised of instruments of the type specified in clauses (1) through (7) above;
(9) other securities and financial instruments which offer a security comparable to the instruments specified in clauses (1) through (8) above; and
(10) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (9) above of foreign obligors, which investments or obligors have the ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies.
“CFC” means each Person that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.
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“CFC Holdco” means a Domestic Subsidiary with no material assets other than equity interests of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.
“Change ofControl” means:
(1) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent entities (or their successors by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of their assets);
(2) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company or the merger or amalgamation of any Person with or into a Subsidiary of the Company, unless the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, immediately prior to such transaction, hold securities of the surviving, continuing or transferee Person that represent, immediately after such transaction, at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving or transferee Person;
(3) the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition (other than by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act); or
(4) the adoption by the shareholders of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this definition or any provision of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, (i) a Person or group shall not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock (x) to be acquired by such Person or group pursuant 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 or (y) solely as a result of veto or approval rights in any joint venture agreement, shareholder agreement, investor rights agreement or other similar agreement, (ii) a Person or group will not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock of another Person as a result of its ownership of Capital Stock or other securities of such other Person’s parent (or related contractual rights) unless it owns more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Person’s parent and (iii) the right to acquire Voting Stock (so long as such Person does not have the right to direct the voting of the Voting Stock subject to such right) or any veto power in connection with the acquisition or disposition of Voting Stock will not cause a party to be a beneficial owner.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral” means, collectively, all of the assets and property (including Capital Stock) and interests therein and proceeds thereof, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Excluded Property, in or upon which a Lien is granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as security for the
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Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and any related Obligations including any Parallel Debt.
“Collateral Access Agreement” means an agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Notes Collateral Agent executed by a lessor, bailee, warehouseman or other Person in possession of Collateral, or any lessor (and any mortgagee, if applicable) of real estate leased by any Note Party.
“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, the requirement that:
(a) the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received from the Company and each Subsidiary that is a Designated Subsidiary, either (i) in the case of any Person that is a Designated Subsidiary on the Issue Date, (A) in the case of the Company and each such Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement and the U.S. Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (B) in the case of each such Subsidiary that is a Canadian Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, and the applicable Canadian Security Agreements, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (C) [reserved], (D) in the case of each such Subsidiary that is a German Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement and the applicable German Security Agreements and, with respect to its Concentration Accounts and/or Collection Accounts (in each case, as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) in England and Wales (if any), the applicable UK Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (E) in the case of each Dutch Guarantor, the applicable Dutch Security Agreements, (F) in the case of each such Subsidiary that is a Swiss Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, the applicable Swiss Security Agreements, and the applicable German Security Agreements with respect to its Inventory (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) located in Germany, or (G) in the case of each UK Guarantor and each such Subsidiary that is a UK Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement and the applicable UK Security Agreements, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, or (ii) in the case of any Person that becomes a Designated Subsidiary after the Issue Date, (A) a counterpart of the applicable supplemental indenture hereto duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (B) instruments in the form or forms specified in the applicable Security Agreement under which such Person becomes a party to the applicable Security Agreement (or, if applicable, new Collateral Documents), duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, together with such documents and opinions with respect to such Designated Subsidiary as may reasonably be requested by the Notes Collateral Agent and (C) all documentation and other information requested by the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent regarding such Designated Subsidiary as may be required to comply with the applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act;
(b) subject to Section 4.18, the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received all such Collateral Access Agreements, Control Agreements and other Collateral Documents required to be provided to it hereunder or under the applicable Security Agreement, duly executed by the parties thereto;
(c) all Capital Stock of each Note Party (other than the Company), which Capital Stock shall be held directly by another Note Party, and all Capital Stock owned by or on behalf of any Note Party shall have been pledged pursuant to the applicable Security Agreement or, solely with respect to the Capital Stock of any Note Party (other than the Capital Stock of a Canadian Guarantor owned by the Company or a Domestic Guarantor), a pledge agreement governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Note Party is organized and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent and, in the case of Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in any CFC or CFC Holdco, in each case, that is an Excluded Subsidiary, owned directly by the Company or a Domestic Guarantor, the Company or such Domestic Guarantor’s pledge of Capital Stock entitled to vote in any such CFC or CFC Holdco to secure the Obligations in respect of the Notes shall be limited to 65%
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of such voting Capital Stock (and 100% of non-voting Capital Stock), and the Notes Collateral Agent shall, to the extent required by the applicable Collateral Document, have received certificates or other instruments representing all such certificated Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;
(d) all Indebtedness of the Company and any Subsidiary that is owing to any Note Party and in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or more and all Indebtedness of any other Person in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or more shall be evidenced by a promissory note and shall have been pledged pursuant to the applicable Security Agreement, and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank; and
(e) all documents and instruments, including UCC financing statement and PPSA registrations, required by the Collateral Documents or this Indenture with the priority required by the Collateral Documents shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Notes Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and the provisions of Section 4.11, any Designated Subsidiary formed or acquired after the Issue Date shall not be required to comply with the foregoing requirements prior to the time specified in Section 4.11. The foregoing definition and the provisions of Section 4.11 shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or, subject to the requirements of applicable law, flood insurance, legal opinions, appraisals, surveys or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets of the Note Parties, or the provision of Guarantees by any Subsidiary, if and for so long as the Notes Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes) in consultation with the Company, determines that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets, or obtaining such title insurance or flood insurance, legal opinions, appraisals, surveys or other deliverables in respect of such assets, or providing such Guarantees, shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders therefrom. The Notes Collateral Agent may in its reasonable discretion (acting at the direction of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes), grant extensions of time for the creation and perfection of security interests in (including delivery of promissory notes as required by clause (d) above) or the obtaining of title insurance or, subject to the requirements of applicable law, flood insurance, legal opinions, appraisals, surveys or other deliverables with respect to particular assets or the provision of any Guarantee by any Subsidiary (including extensions beyond the Issue Date or in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Issue Date) where it determines that such action cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required to be accomplished by this Indenture or the Collateral Documents, it being acknowledged and agreed that Notes Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes) shall take the cooperation of and constraints upon third party providers into consideration when making such determination.
“Collateral Designation” means, solely to the extent that the Notes Obligations (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) remain outstanding and the ABL Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, the occurrence of the following: (a) the valid exercise of the Collateral Designation Option (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) by the Notes Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes) on behalf of the participating Secured Parties pursuant to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or (b) the Company’s election, by written notice to the ABL Facility Administrative Agent and the Notes Collateral Agent, to designate the Specified Collateral as Notes Priority Collateral instead of ABL Priority Collateral.
“Collateral Designation Conditions” means: (a) with respect to a Collateral Designation described in clause (a) of the definition thereof, the requirements to effect a Collateral Designation Date by the Notes
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Collateral Agent set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement (it is understood and agreed by the Company and each Guarantor that upon any effective consummation of a Collateral Designation by the Notes Collateral Agent, (x) all Eligible Intellectual Property shall be removed from the Borrowing Base (as each such term is defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and (y) the lower advance rates applicable following the Collateral Designation Date shall be effective, in each case, without any further action or consent of the Company or any Guarantor or any other Person); or (b) with respect to a Collateral Designation described in clause (b) of the definition thereof, each of the following requirements: (i) the Company shall repay the amount of the IP Advance (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) then outstanding, (ii) the Company shall deliver to the ABL Facility Administrative Agent an updated borrowing base certificate, giving pro forma effect to such Collateral Designation (including (x) the removal of all Eligible Intellectual Property, and (y) the lower advance rates applicable following the Collateral Designation Date), demonstrating pro forma compliance with the financial covenant in the ABL Credit Agreement, and (iii) the Payment Conditions (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) shall be satisfied with respect to such Collateral Designation and any related transactions in connection therewith.
“Collateral Designation Date” means, with respect to any Collateral Designation, the date that such Collateral Designation is consummated, provided that the Collateral Designation Conditions applicable thereto are satisfied on such date.
“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the security agreements, pledge agreements, deeds of hypothec, agency agreements, Mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral assignments, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, debentures, and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture or any of the foregoing (including, without limitation, the financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant state), as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and pursuant to which Collateral is pledged, assigned or granted to or on behalf of the Notes Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes and the Trustee or perfected or notice of such pledge, assignment or grant is given.
“Common Stock” means with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or nonvoting) of such Person’s common stock, whether or not outstanding on the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.
“Company” means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor obligor to its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Article 5.
“Consenting Noteholder” means a party to the Transaction Support Agreement as of the date thereof that receives Notes on the Issue Date.
“Consolidated Cash Interest Expense” means, for any period, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) the cash interest expense (including (x) imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (y) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and (z) net costs under Swap Agreements entered into to hedge interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) of the Company and the Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any interest accrued during such period in respect of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary that is required to be capitalized rather than included in consolidated interest expense for such period in accordance with GAAP, plus (iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of obligations referred to in clause (b)(iii) below that were amortized or accrued in a previous period, minus (b) the sum of (i) interest income of the Company and the Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a
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consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to amortization or write-off of capitalized interest or other financing costs paid in a previous period, plus (iii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to accretion or amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable in kind for such period.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP:
(1) Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus
(2) the sum of the following, without duplication, to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:
(a) income and franchise tax expense during such period,
(b) interest expense (including, without limitation, interest expense attributable to Capital Leases Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations and all net payment obligations pursuant to interest Swap Obligations),
(c) amortization, depreciation and other non-cash charges for such period (except to the extent that such non-cash charges are reserved for cash charges to be taken in the future),
(d) the amount of premium payments paid by the Company or its Subsidiaries, and charges in respect of unamortized fees and expenses, in each case associated with the repayment of Indebtedness,
(e) expenses relating to stock-based compensation plans resulting from the application of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123R, and
(f) one-time restructuring charges and reserves; provided that the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (vi) (including in respect of the restructuring work performed by Alvarez & Marsal by their Consumer and Retail Group, but excluding one-time restructuring charges and reserves to the extent Incurred on or before December 31, 2025 in connection with the consummation of the Transactions or effectiveness of this Agreement) for any period (x) ending on or prior to January 31, 2027 shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (prior to giving effect to any add-back pursuant to this clause (vi)) and (y) ending after January 31, 2027, shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (prior to giving effect to any add-back pursuant to this clause (vi)), minus
(3) interest income for such period*, minus*
(4) one-time income or gains for such period.
“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (a) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period, (b) cash principal payments on Indebtedness made or required to be made during such period, (c) expense for income taxes paid or required to be paid in cash during such period and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash during such period pursuant to Section 4.08(b)(viii) and Section 4.08(b)(x) hereof and Section 6.08(a)(vii) of the ABL Credit Agreement.
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“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (i) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and the Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, in the amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but without giving effect to any election to value any Indebtedness at “fair value,” or any other accounting principle that results in the amount of any such Indebtedness (other than zero coupon Indebtedness) as reflected on such balance sheet to be below the stated principal amount of such Indebtedness), (b) the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, determined on a consolidated basis, and (c) the aggregate obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries as an account party in respect of drawn letters of credit or letters of guaranty, other than contingent obligations in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty to the extent such letter of credit or letter of guaranty does not support Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of twelve consecutive Fiscal Months of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.06.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP; provided that, in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Subsidiaries for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the net income (or loss) of any Person (other than the Company) that is not a Subsidiary except to the extent such net income is actually paid in cash to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by dividend or other distribution during such period, (b) the net income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except to the extent included pursuant to the foregoing clause (a), and (c) the net income (if positive), of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of such net income (i) is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary or (ii) would be subject to any taxes payable on such dividends or distributions.
“Control Agreement” means, with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account of a Note Party, (a) a “springing” control agreement, executed and delivered by such Note Party, the ABL Collateral Agent, the applicable securities intermediary (with respect to a Securities Account) or bank (with respect to a Deposit Account) and the Notes Collateral Agent or (b) for such accounts not located in the United States, an analogous document used for equivalent purposes under comparable law of such jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, a security notice), in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent (it being agreed that any obligation of the Notes Collateral Agent, in its individual or corporate capacity, to indemnify a party to a Control Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory), and, with respect to Deposit Accounts under German law, (x) any agreement to be entered into between the Company or applicable Subsidiary as account holder, the ABL Collateral Agent and the respective account bank and the Notes Collateral Agent, or (y) a notice of pledge to be served on the respective account bank and the corresponding acknowledgement, granting sole disposal rights in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent, in each case reasonably acceptable to the Notes Collateral Agent.
“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders and the Company.
“Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, including, without limitation, the ABL Credit Agreement, in each case, with the same or different
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borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.
“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
“Debt Facility” means one or more debt facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, 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 or issuances of debt securities evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or similar instruments, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities) in whole or in part from time to time (and whether or not with the original administrative agent, lenders or trustee or another administrative agent or agents, other lenders or trustee of such Debt Facility).
“Default” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time, or both, would be, an Event of Default.
“Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note or Additional Note (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.
“Deposit Account” means each checking, savings or other demand deposit account maintained by any Note Party.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.04 as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.
“Designated Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary other than any Excluded Subsidiary.
“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, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, or requires the payment of any cash dividend or any other scheduled payment constituting a return of capital (other than any payment solely in Capital Stock (other than any Capital Stock referred to in this clause (a)), in each case at any time on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Stated Maturity of the Notes, or (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) cash, (ii) debt securities or (iii) any Capital Stock referred to in (a) above, in each case at any time prior to the date that is 91 days after the Stated Maturity of the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the issuer of such Capital Stock to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the issuer may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption is permitted under the terms of this Indenture.
“Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement),
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which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.
“Domestic Guarantor” means any Guarantor other than a Foreign Guarantor.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Foreign Subsidiary.
“Domination Agreement” means a domination agreement (Beherrschungvertrag) within the meaning of Sec 291(1) of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) among the Company (or any of its direct or indirect Wholly Owned Subsidiaries) and the other parties thereto.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.
“Dutch Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is a Dutch Subsidiary.
“Dutch Security Agreements” means, collectively, any Dutch law pledge or security agreement entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any Note Party (as required by this Indenture or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Dutch Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the Netherlands.
“EMU” means the European Economic and Monetary Union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.
“EMULegislation” means the legislative measures of the European Union for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the Euro in one or more member states of the European Union.
“Euro” means the single currency unit of the member states of the European Union that have the euro as their lawful currency in accordance with the EMU Legislation.
“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.Y., as operator of Euroclear systems Clearance System or any successor securities clearing agency.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Account” means all (i) Deposit Accounts, securities accounts, futures accounts and commodity accounts (a) maintained solely as payroll or other employee wage and benefit accounts (including withholding tax payments related thereto), (b) maintained solely as sales tax accounts, (c) maintained (A) solely as escrow accounts or fiduciary or trust accounts, in each case, for the benefit of third parties, other than the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates and accounts otherwise held exclusively for the benefit of third parties, other than the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates or (B) solely to hold restricted cash as supporting obligations for guarantees permitted under this Indenture, (d) that contain solely deposits permitted by clauses (c) and (d) of the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances” in the ABL Credit Agreement, if the documents governing such deposits prohibit the granting of a lien on such deposits, (e) that are maintained solely as store accounts maintained for local deposits; provided that the entire balance (other than a nominal amount to cover fees and charges) of all such accounts is swept on the Friday of each week (or if Friday is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) into one or more Deposit Accounts that are not Excluded Accounts and that are subject to a Control Agreement (it being understood that no Concentration Account or Collection Account
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(each as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) will be an Excluded Account as a result of this clause (e)) and (f) the entire balance of which is swept on each Business Day into one or more Deposit Accounts that are not Excluded Accounts and that are subject to a Control Agreement (it being understood that no Concentration Account or Collection Account will be an Excluded Account as a result of this clause (f)), and (ii) other Deposit Accounts, securities accounts, futures accounts or commodities accounts with an aggregate closing daily balance not in excess of $4,000,000 in the aggregate for all such Deposit Accounts, securities accounts, futures accounts or commodities accounts excluded pursuant to this clause (ii); provided that no Concentration Account, Collection Account, Deposit Account included in the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program nor the Company’s Funding Account (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) (regardless of the amount on deposit at any time in such account) shall be an Excluded Account.
“Excluded Property” means:
(1) (x) any fee-owned real property that is (i) located outside the United States, (ii) excluded to the extent that security interests over such assets would result in material adverse tax treatment, or (iii) not Material Real Property and (y) all leasehold interests in real property (it being understood that there shall be no requirement to obtain leasehold mortgages/deeds of trusts, landlord waivers, estoppels, collateral access letters or similar third-party agreements or consents, except to the extent that any such agreements or consents are delivered under the ABL Facility);
(2) motor vehicles, aircrafts, vessels and other goods subject to certificates of title (in each case except to the extent perfection can be accomplished through the filing of UCC-1 financing statements);
(3) letter of credit rights with a value of less than $500,000 (except to the extent (x) perfection can be accomplished through the filing of UCC-1 financing statements or (y) the Notes Collateral Agent has obtained control over such letter of credit rights or has possession of the applicable letter of credit in accordance with this Indenture) and Commercial Tort Claims with a value of less than $750,000;
(4) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation (including the requirement to obtain consent of any governmental authority) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction;
(5) [reserved];
(6) Capital Stock in any Person other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries to the extent not permitted by the terms of such Person’s organizational or joint venture documents (for so long as such Person remains a non-wholly owned Subsidiary);
(7) any lease, permit, license (including Licenses (as defined in the ABL Security Documents)) or other agreement or any property subject to a purchase money security interest or similar arrangement permitted by this Indenture to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate, invalidate, be prohibited or restricted or constitute a default under such lease, permit, license (including Licenses (as defined in the ABL Security Documents)) or agreement or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of, or require the consent of, any other party thereto (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is
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expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code or the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction notwithstanding such prohibition; provided that, in the case of any Licenses (as defined in the ABL Security Documents), the foregoing shall only apply to Licenses (as defined in the ABL Security Documents) granted by unaffiliated third parties to the Company or any Guarantor;
(8) “intent-to-use” trademark or service mark applications prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto;
(9) any governmental licenses or state, provincial, territorial or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations are prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction;
(10) any property subject to a Lien existing at the time such property was acquired that is permitted by Section 4.10 of this Indenture to the extent and for so long as such contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted prohibits a security interest or pledge on such property, after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction; and
(11) any Excluded Accounts (other than the Deposit Accounts, securities accounts or commodities accounts referenced in clause (i)(e), (i)(f) or clause (ii) of the definition of “Excluded Accounts” (but excluding, in the case of such clause (ii), Deposit Accounts and securities accounts that participate in the Intercompany Cash Pool));
provided, however, that Excluded Property shall not include any property that is pledged to secure obligations arising in respect of the ABL Facility or the Second-Out Notes Indenture (whether pursuant to the terms at such time of the foregoing or any related documents).
“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company on the Issue Date or on the date such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, in each case for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-wholly owned Subsidiary, (b) any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company (subject to the immediately following sentence), (c) [reserved], (d) any CFC Holdco, (e) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable law from providing a Guarantee of the applicable Obligations or if such Guarantee would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization, unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (f) any Subsidiary that is a not-for-profit organization, (g) any Subsidiary that is an Immaterial Subsidiary (unless, solely in the case of a Subsidiary organized in the same jurisdiction as an existing Guarantor, the Company otherwise elects), and (h) subject to clause (x) of the penultimate sentence of this definition, any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Company, the cost or other consequences of becoming a Guarantor shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders therefrom (provided, that, prior to such determination, the Company shall have delivered an Officer’s Certificate to the Notes Collateral Agent certifying that such cost or other consequence is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders therefrom and, in reasonable detail, the basis for such determination); provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, all Excluded Subsidiaries as of the date hereof are: Fossil (UK) Global Services LTD, Fossil Global Services India LLP, Fossil Holding, LLC, Fossil International Holdings, Inc., Fossil Services, LLC, Fossil (Gibraltar) Ltd., Katchin, Inc., Fossil Japan, Inc., Katchin GmbH, Fossil Mexico Sa de CV, Servicios Fossil Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Fossil (East) Ltd., Fossil Luxembourg Sarl, Montres Antima SA, Swiss Technology Production SA, Swiss Technology Components AG, Fossil India Private Ltd., Fossil Singapore Pte., Fossil Industries Ltd., Fossil Asia Pacific Ltd., Pulse Time Center Company, Ltd., Pulse Time Center (Shenzhen) Co., Fossil Korea Ltd., Fossil Time Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Fossil Commercial (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Fossil Trading Shanghai Company Ltd., Fossil
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Commercial (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., FDT, Ltd., Fossil (Australia) Pty., Fossil Hong Kong Ltd., Fossil Vietnam, Fossil New Zealand Limited, Fossil (Macau) Limited, Fossil Shares Services GmbH, Fossil Stores Belgium BVBA, Fossil Belgium BVBA, Fossil (Austria) GmbH, Fossil S.L.U., FESCO GmbH, Fossil Italia, S.r.l., Fossil Sweden AB, In Time Distribuicao de Relogios, Sociedad Unipessoal, Lda., Fossil Stores S.r.l., Fossil Denmark A/S, Fossil Norway AS, Fossil France S.A.S., Fossil Stores France, Fast Europe SARL, Latin America Services, Ltd, Fossil Accessories South Africa Pty. Ltd. and Fossil Poland Spolkaz Ograniczona. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) no Subsidiary of the Company that Guarantees the 2026 Notes (other than Fossil (UK) Global Services Ltd), the Second-Out Notes, the ABL Credit Agreement or any other Material Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary and (y) no Subsidiary of the Company that owns or licenses (other than non-exclusive licenses from the Company or another Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business) any Material Intellectual Property shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, after the date hereof, no Guarantor shall constitute an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to clause (a) of this definition (1) absent a bona fide business purpose (as certified in writing to the Notes Collateral Agent by an Officer of the Company) or (2) in a transaction (or series of related transactions) the primary purpose of which is to release any applicable guaranty.
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Company in good faith (including as to the value of all non-cash assets and liabilities) ; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, in making such determination the Company shall be entitled to consider and include in making any such determination the results of customary discounts, commissions or other similar discounts or payments pursuant to a private placement or public offering of securities.
“First-Out/Second-Out IntercreditorAgreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, the Second-Out Notes Trustee, Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent, each additional agent from time to time party thereto, and the grantors from time to time party thereto, as may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time.
“Fiscal Month” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the approximately one-month period ending around the end of each month or such other applicable period, as determined from time to time by the Company in the ordinary course of its business, as the context may require, or, if any such Subsidiary was not in existence on the first day of any such period, the period commencing on the date on which such Subsidiary is incorporated, organized, formed or otherwise created and ending on the last day of such period.
“Fiscal Year” means the fifty–two (52) or fifty-three (53) week period beginning on the date which is one day after the end of the similar preceding period and ending on the Saturday closest to December 31st.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such periodminus (ii) Unfinanced Capital Expenditures for such periodminus (iii) such portion of principal payments on Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations made by the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries during such period as is attributable to additions to property, plant and equipment that have not otherwise been reflected on the consolidated statement of cash flows as additions to property, plant and equipment for such period to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.
“Foreign Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is not organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
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“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect and applicable to the accounting period in respect of which reference to GAAP is made and applied in accordance with the consistency requirements thereof.
“German GmbH Guarantor” means any German Guarantor organized as a limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) under the laws of Germany.
“GermanGmbH & Co. KG Guarantor” means any German Guarantor organized as a limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft) under the laws of Germany.
“German Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is a German Subsidiary.
“German Security Agreements” means, collectively, any German law pledge or security agreement entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any Note Party (as required by this Indenture or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“German Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that has been formed or is organized under the laws of Germany.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether provincial, territorial, state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national body exercising such powers or functions, such as the European Union, the Council of Ministers of the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Government Securities” means securities that are (1) direct obligations of the United States for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“Guarantee” means (1) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and (2) any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person :
(1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or
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(2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
“Guarantor” means each Subsidiary in existence on the Issue Date that provides a Note Guarantee on the Issue Date (and any other Subsidiary that provides a Note Guarantee after the Issue Date); provided that upon release or discharge of such Subsidiary from its Note Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Subsidiary ceases to be a Guarantor.
“Guarantor ReleaseProtection Provisions” mean (a) each of the provisions under (i) Article 10, (ii) Section 4.11 and (iii) Section 5.01, and (b) the Event of Default described in clause (9) under the definition of “Event of Default.”
“Guarantor Subordinated Obligation” means, with respect to a Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee.
“Hedging Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Swap Agreement transaction.
“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.
“IAI Investor” means any Holder that is an institutional accredited investor who has entered into a non-disclosure agreement with the Company and that, together with its Affiliates, holds at least 25.0% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor) that, as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Month of the Company for which financial statements have theretofore been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 4.06, either individually or together with its Subsidiaries, accounted for less than (x) 5.0% of Total Assets at such date and (y) less than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the most recent twelve Fiscal Month period ending on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been delivered to the Trustee under Section 4.06; provided that, notwithstanding the above, “Immaterial Subsidiary” shall exclude any of the Company’s Subsidiaries designated in writing to the Trustee, by an Officer of the Company to the extent necessary to ensure that Immaterial Subsidiaries and their respective Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, accounted for, at the last day of any Fiscal Month of the Company for which financial statements have theretofore been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 4.06, less than 5.0% of Total Assets at such date and less than 5.0% of consolidated revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the twelve Fiscal Month period ending on such date for which financial statements have been delivered to the Trustee under Section 4.06.
“Incur” means issue, create, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be Incurred by such Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary; and the terms ”Incurred,” “Incurring” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
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“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person (excluding trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding (i) current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred compensation payable to directors, officers or employees of the Company or any Subsidiary and (iii) any purchase price adjustment or earnout incurred in connection with an acquisition), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (g) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (h) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed by such Person (but only to the extent of the lesser of (x) the amount of such Indebtedness and (y) the fair market value of such property, if such Indebtedness has not been assumed by such Person), and (i) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not include trade payables (including any obligation owed by a Person arising out of arrangements whereby a third party makes payments for the account of such Person directly or indirectly to a trade creditor of such Person in respect of trade payables of such Person) and related accrued expenses, and related obligations owed to such third party purchaser, incurred by any Person in accordance with customary practices and in the ordinary course of business of such Person. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other Person (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor by contract, as a matter of law or otherwise as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such other Person, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall (i) be the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount or the aggregate principal amount outstanding in the case of Indebtedness issued with interest payable in kind and (ii) include any interest (or in the case of Preferred Stock, dividends) thereon that is more than 30 days past due. Except to the extent provided in the preceding sentence, the amount of any Indebtedness that is convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of the Company outstanding as of any date shall be deemed to be equal to the principal and premium, if any, in respect of such Indebtedness, notwithstanding the provisions of GAAP (including Accounting Standards Codification Topic 470-20, Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options).
“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in Similar Businesses of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.
“Initial Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Intercompany Cash Pooling Program” means the physical cash pooling in-house banking program described to the ABL Facility Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof, pursuant to which Fossil Europe BV serves as the cash pool master (or in-house bank) for the Company and its applicable Subsidiaries.
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“Intercompany Subordination Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Intercompany Subordination Agreement dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries party thereto, the ABL Facility Administrative Agent, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
“Intercreditor Agreements” means, collectively, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First-Out/Second-Out Intercreditor Agreement, and any other applicable intercreditor agreement in a form substantially similar to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or First-Out/Second-Out Intercreditor Agreement, as the case may be.
“Interest Payment Date” means March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year commencing with March 15, 2026 to the Stated Maturity of the Notes.
“Interest Period” means, with respect to any Note, the period commencing on and including an Interest Payment Date and ending on and including the day immediately preceding the next Interest Payment Date, with the exception that the first Interest Period with respect to any Note shall commence on and include the issue date of the applicable Notes and end on and exclude the first Interest Payment Date to occur after the issue date of the applicable Notes (the Interest Payment Date for any Interest Period shall be the interest payment date occurring on the date immediately following the last day of such Interest Period).
“Investment” means, with respect to a specified Person, any Capital Stock, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, or any capital contribution or loans or advances (other than advances made in the ordinary course of business that would be recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP) to, Guarantees of any Indebtedness or other obligations of, or any other investment (including any investment in the form of transfer of property for consideration that is less than the fair value thereof (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company)) in, any other Person that are held or made by the specified Person. The amount, as of any date of determination, of (a) any Investment in the form of a loan or an advance shall be the principal amount thereof outstanding on such date, without any adjustment for write-downs or write-offs (including as a result of forgiveness of any portion thereof) with respect to such loan or advance after the date thereof, (b) any Investment in the form of a Guarantee shall be determined in accordance with the definition of the term “Guarantee”, (c) any Investment in the form of a purchase or other acquisition for value of any Capital Stock, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any Person shall be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company) of the consideration therefor (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith), plus the fair value (as so determined) of all additions, as of such date of determination, thereto, and minus the amount, as of such date of determination, of any portion of such Investment repaid to the investor in cash as a repayment of principal or a return of capital, as the case may be, but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the time of such Investment, (d) any Investment (other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) above) in the form of a transfer of Capital Stock or other property by the investor to the investee, including any such transfer in the form of a capital contribution, shall be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company) of such Capital Stock or other property as of the time of such transfer (less, in the case of any investment in the form of transfer of property for consideration that is less than the fair value thereof, the fair value (as so determined) of such consideration as of the time of the transfer), minus the amount, as of such date of determination, of any portion of such Investment repaid to the investor in cash as a return of capital, but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the time of such transfer, and (e) any Investment (other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above) in any Person
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resulting from the issuance by such Person of its Capital Stock to the investor shall be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company) of such Capital Stock at the time of the issuance thereof.
For purposes of Section 4.08:
(1) any property transferred to or from a Subsidiary will be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer; and
(2) if the Company or any Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Voting Stock of any Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such entity is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or any other equivalent rating by any Rating Agency, in each case, with a stable or better outlook.
“IP Advance” has the meaning given thereto in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).
“IP Advance Amount” means an amount equal to 107.500% of the amount of the IP Advance then outstanding.
“Issue Date” means November 13, 2025.
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, assignment by way of security, security interest or other encumbrance in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
“Line Cap” shall have the meaning and be calculated as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the results of operations, assets, business or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to perform any of their monetary obligations under the Notes, this Indenture, the Security Agreements or any Intercreditor Agreement to which it is a party, or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or Holders under the Notes, this Indenture, the Security Agreements or any applicable Intercreditor Agreement.
“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than letters of credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Obligations, of any one or more of the Company and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $15,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Obligation at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Company or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Obligation were terminated at such time.
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“Material Intellectual Property” means intellectual property that is (i) material to the conduct of business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) necessary or material to permit the Notes Collateral Agent to enforce its rights and remedies under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents with respect to the Collateral, or the disposition of which would otherwise adversely affect the Net Orderly Liquidation Value Percentage (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) of any Collateral.
“Material Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee by the Company or any Guarantor having a Fair Market Value at the time in excess of $2,500,000.
“Michele Brand” means all right, title, and interest in and to (i) all inventory and all molds for manufacturing finished goods; (ii) marketing assets; (iii) records; (iv) unfulfilled purchase orders, including, without limitation, the right to bill and receive payment for products subject to such unfulfilled purchase orders; (v) all intellectual property; (vi) all rights under transferred contracts; (vii) all goodwill associated with the MICHELE brand and/or the MICHELE assets; (viii) all permits required for the ownership and use of the MICHELE assets, and all pending applications therefor or renewals thereof; (ix) all machinery, equipment and tooling, whether owned or leased; and (x) all currently effective warranties, guaranties, indemnities and similar rights against third parties, if any, solely relating to the MICHELE assets (except to the extent applicable from any sale thereof), in each case used in or for the business of manufacturing, distributing and selling of timepieces under the MICHELE brand and included in an asset purchase agreement, share purchase agreement or similar agreement in connection with the sale of the Company’s MICHELE brand.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. or any successor to its rating agency business.
“Mortgages” means the mortgages, land charges, debentures, deeds of hypothecs, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents in legally sufficient form to secure Liens on the Premises, as well as the other Collateral secured by and described in the mortgages, land charges, debentures, deeds of hypothecs, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents.
“Net Assets” for the purpose of Section 10.02(a) (Limitation on Guarantor Liability relating to any German Guarantor) means a German GmbH Guarantor’s (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) assets pursuant to Section 266 sub-section (2) A, B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch) less the aggregate of its liabilities pursuant to Section 266 sub-section (3) B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code, taking into consideration the generally accepted accounting principles applicable from time to time in Germany (Grundsatze ordnungsmafiigerBuchfuhrung) based on the same principles and evaluation methods as consistently applied by the respective German Guarantor in the preparation of its financial statements.
“Net Available Cash” from an Asset Disposition means cash payments received (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any securities or other assets received as consideration, but only as and when received (including after release from any required escrow), but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to the properties or assets that are the subject of such Asset Disposition or received in any other non-cash form) therefrom, in each case net of:
(1) all legal, accounting, investment banking, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses Incurred, and all federal, state, provincial, territorial, foreign and local taxes required to be paid or reasonably expected to be paid or accrued as a liability
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under GAAP (after taking into account any tax credits or deductions that are available or reasonably expected to be available and any tax sharing agreements), as a consequence of such Asset Disposition;
(2) [reserved];
(3) all distributions and other payments required to be made to noncontrolling interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Disposition;
(4) the deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the assets disposed of in such Asset Disposition and retained by the Company or any Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition;
(5) payments of unassumed liabilities (not constituting Indebtedness) relating to the assets subject to such Asset Disposition at the time of, or within 30 days after, such Asset Disposition; and
(6) with respect to any Asset Disposition involving a disposition of assets of a Foreign Subsidiary and solely to the extent the proceeds have not been applied to reduce Indebtedness or make capital or other permitted expenditures or investments in accordance with Section 4.16, the Net Available Cash attributable to such assets of such Foreign Subsidiary to the extent that the repatriation of such Net Available Cash to the Company or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries (i) is prohibited, restricted or delayed by applicable laws, rules or regulations or (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in adverse tax consequences to the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to overcome or eliminate any such restrictions and/or minimize any costs to comply with Section 4.16.
“Net Cash Proceeds,” with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually Incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of such issuance or sale (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).
“Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor.
“Note Documents” means this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (including in each case, any amendments thereto).
“Note Guarantee” means, individually, any Guarantee of payment of the Notes and the Company’s other Obligations under this Indenture by a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and any supplemental indenture thereto, and, collectively, all such Guarantees.
“Note Party” means the Company or any Guarantor.
“Notes” means the Initial Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall also include any Additional Notes and Super Priority Notes that may be issued under a supplemental indenture and Notes to be issued or authenticated upon transfer, replacement or exchange of Notes and any Notes to be issued in connection with a PIK Payment.
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“Notes Priority Collateral” means all Collateral other than ABL Priority Collateral (including for the avoidance of doubt, any such assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision in any other Bankruptcy Law, would be ABL Priority Collateral), including, without limitation:
(1) all Equipment, Fixtures, Real Property, intercompany indebtedness between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries or their Affiliates (other than ABL Priority Collateral described in clause (5) of the definition thereof), and all Capital Stock held by the Note Parties and other Investment Property (other than any Investment Property constituting ABL Priority Collateral, including Investment Property described in clause 3(y) of the definition of ABL Priority Collateral);
(2) except to the extent constituting ABL Priority Collateral, all Instruments, Commercial Tort Claims, Documents and General Intangibles;
(3) Notes Priority Accounts; provided, however, that to the extent that identifiable proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral are deposited in any such Split-Lien Priority Accounts, such identifiable proceeds shall be treated as ABL Priority Collateral;
(4) on and after the Collateral Designation Date, Specified Collateral;
(5) all other Collateral, other than the ABL Priority Collateral (including ABL Priority Proceeds); and
(6) all collateral security and guarantees with respect to the foregoing, and all cash, Money, insurance proceeds, receivables, products, substitutions, replacements, Instruments, Securities and Financial Assets received as proceeds of any of the foregoing, but, in any event, excluding the ABL Priority Collateral (including ABL Priority Proceeds).
Any capitalized term used in this definition but not otherwise defined herein shall be defined as set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
“Notes Collateral Agent” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, as notes collateral agent under the Note Documents, until a successor, if any, replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
“Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, provincial, territorial, federal or foreign law), other monetary obligations, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and Guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
“Offer to Purchase” means an Asset Disposition Offer or a Change of Control Offer.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Co-President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Chief Legal Officer, the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors or, if the Company is a partnership or a limited liability company that has no such officers, a person duly authorized
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under applicable law by the general partner, managers, members or a similar body to act on behalf of the Company. Officer of any Guarantor has a correlative meaning.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Officer of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, and delivered to the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable.
“Opinion ofCounsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel (including an employee of or counsel to the Company) who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable.
“Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Obligations under the Notes or the Note Guarantees and is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that has equal Lien priority with respect to the different categories of Collateral under the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement relative to the Notes and the Note Guarantees and is senior in priority to the Liens securing any junior lien priority Indebtedness; provided, that, in each case, an Authorized Representative of such Indebtedness shall have executed a joinder to the applicable Intercreditor Agreements in the form provided therein.
“Perfection Certificate” means that certain perfection certificate dated as of the Issue Date, executed and delivered by each Note Party in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties.
“PermittedAcquisition” means the purchase or other acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of Capital Stock in, or all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of), any Person if (a) in the case of any purchase or other acquisition of Capital Stock in a Person, such Person will be, upon the consummation of such acquisition, a Subsidiary, in each case including as a result of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation between any Subsidiary and such Person, or (b) in the case of any purchase or other acquisition of other assets, such assets will be owned by the Company or a Subsidiary; provided that (i) no Event of Default exists at the date such transaction is consummated, (ii) at the time such transaction is consummated, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction (calculated as of the last day of the Fiscal Month of the Company then most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 4.06), the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed 1.50:1.00, (iii) the Company shall promptly deliver information relating to such Permitted Acquisition as the Notes Collateral Agent may reasonably request, and (iv) any such acquisition or Investment shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap.
“Permitted Investment” means an Investment:
(1) [reserved];
(2) [reserved];
(3) consisting of contributions to and borrowings from the cash pool under the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program among the applicable Subsidiaries (other than the Company and Domestic Guarantors) in the ordinary course of business to fund ordinary course operational needs, including purchasing inventory, paying payroll and funding marketing initiatives; provided that (i) the Company and the Domestic Guarantors shall not participate in the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program, (ii) all amounts owing under the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program shall be subject to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement at all times, (iii) the aggregate balance at any time (to the extent positive) of (x) outstanding amounts contributed by the Company and the
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Guarantors to the cash pool minus (y) outstanding amounts borrowed by the Company and the Guarantors from the cash pool (the “Net Cash Pooling Investment”) shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap, and (iv) if a Dominion Period (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) has occurred and is continuing, the Company and the Guarantors shall not make any contributions to the cash pool;
(4) Investments by the Company and the Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries; provided that (i) such Subsidiaries are Subsidiaries prior to, or have been newly formed with the initial Investment therein being, such Investments and (ii) such Investments shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap;
(5) loans or advances made by the Company to any Subsidiary or made by any Subsidiary to the Company or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the Indebtedness resulting therefrom is permitted by Section 4.09(b)(8) and (ii) such loans and advances shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap;
(6) Guarantees by the Company or any Subsidiary of (i) the Obligations and (ii) Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary other than as specified in the foregoing clause (i) including any such Guarantees arising as a result of any such Person being a joint and several co-applicant with respect to any letter of credit or letter of guaranty; provided that, with respect to the foregoing clause (ii), such Indebtedness shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap;
(7) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in cash or in the form of Investments that do not constitute transfers of Collateral, in an aggregate amount outstanding (as reduced by the amount of capital returned from any such Permitted Investment (exclusive of items reflected in Consolidated Net Income), which reductions may not exceed in aggregate amount the amount originally transferred in connection with any Permitted Investment hereunder), together with all other Investments pursuant to this clause (7), at the time of each such Investment not to exceed $5,000,000.
(8) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in exchange for consideration consisting only of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale of Capital Stock of the Company;
(9) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in receivables owing to the Company or any Subsidiary and extensions of trade credit, deposits, prepayments and other credits to vendors, suppliers, lessors, processors, materialmen, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and landlords made in the ordinary course of business;
(10) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in payroll, commission, travel, entertainment expenses, relocation costs and similar advances to cover matters that are reasonably expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, not to exceed, in the aggregate, $1,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(11) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(12) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of the receipt of settlement of amounts due to the Company or any Subsidiary effected in the ordinary course of business;
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(13) purchases of assets in the ordinary course of business;
(14) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(15) Permitted Acquisitions;
(16) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the funding of contributions under any non-qualified retirement plan or similar employee compensation plan in an amount not to exceed the amount of compensation expense recognized by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with such plans;
(17) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consisting of the licensing, sublicensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons; provided that such licensing, subleasing, or contributions of intellectual property must either be (i) non-exclusive or (ii) exclusive only within the granted territory;
(18) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection, lease, utility, workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business;
(19) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.16 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Disposition;
(20) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or replacement of any such Investment or binding commitment existing on the Issue Date but, in each case, only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other Investments or other increases thereof;
(21) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Company or a Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities and not for speculative purposes, which transactions or obligations are Incurred in compliance with Section 4.09;
(22) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of Guarantees issued in accordance with Section 4.09;
(23) Investments constituting (i) pledges and deposits made (A) in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and (B) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (A) above, (ii) pledges and deposits made to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) endorsements of instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;
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(24) Investments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the form of Unfinanced Capital Expenditures;
(25) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of leases or other obligations as permitted under Section 4.09; and
(26) the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing or discharging Indebtedness issued pursuant to an indenture, but only if such defeasing or discharging of Indebtedness is not prohibited under this Agreement; provided that such Investment covers proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary solely to defease or discharge the principal, interest, premium, if any, and if required by the terms of the relevant indenture, fees, costs and expenses due in connection with the defeasance of such Indebtedness.
Unless otherwise specified, for purposes of determining the amount of any Investment outstanding for purposes hereof, such amount shall be deemed to be the amount of such Investment when made, purchased or acquired less any amount realized in respect of such Investment upon the sale, collection or return of capital (not to exceed the original amount invested).
“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:
(1) Liens securing (i) Indebtedness and other obligations permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(4) and (ii) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (and any subsequently Incurred Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any such Refinancing Indebtedness); provided, that the Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (1) shall rank equal to or junior to the Liens securing the Notes (including any Notes issued in connection with the Registration Statement) pursuant to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, or any other intercreditor agreement that is substantially similar to such Intercreditor Agreements (in the case of any Liens with a junior lien priority, with the Notes being treated as senior priority obligations thereunder), as applicable, in all cases subject to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(2) pledges and deposits made (i) in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (i) above;
(3) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law (other than any Lien imposed pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the Code), arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in good faith;
(4) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet delinquent or (i) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) for which the Company or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP and (iii) such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation;
(5) pledges and deposits made to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory
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obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(6) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, site plan agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, cross-easement agreements, reciprocal easement agreements and similar encumbrances and exceptions to title on real property that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any Subsidiary or the ordinary operation of such real property;
(7) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under (i) clause (1) (provided, that such Liens shall be junior to the Liens on the Notes Priority Collateral securing the Notes and shall be subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), (ii) clause (2) (provided, that such Liens shall be subject to the First-Out/Second-Out Intercreditor Agreement), and (iii) clause (11) (provided, that such Liens shall be junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and subject to an applicable Intercreditor Agreement), in each case, of Section 4.09(b);
(8) Liens existing on the Issue Date and other Liens securing Indebtedness Incurred in reliance on Section 4.09(b)(5), subject to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(9) customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks and other depository institutions and Liens of a collecting bank arising under the UCC or PPSA in respect of payment items in the course of collection;
(10) Liens representing any interest or title of a licensor, lessor or sublicensor or sublessor, or a licensee, lessee or sublicensee or sublessee, in the property subject to any lease (other than Capital Lease Obligations), license or sublicense or concession agreement permitted by this Agreement;
(11) [reserved];
(12) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, as a whole or in part, Indebtedness that was previously so secured pursuant to clauses (7), (8), (16), (36), (39), (40) and this clause (12) of this definition; provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced; provided, further, that any such Liens shall rank equal to or junior to the Liens securing Indebtedness being refinanced or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture pursuant to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, if applicable, or any other intercreditor agreement that is substantially similar to such Intercreditor Agreements (in the case of any Liens with a junior lien priority, with any ABL Indebtedness and the Notes being treated as senior priority obligations thereunder), as applicable, in all cases subject to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(13) Liens in connection with the sale or transfer of any Capital Stock or other assets in a transaction permitted under Section 4.16 and customary rights and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such sale or transfer pending the completion thereof;
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(14) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of real property granted by the Company or any Subsidiary to third Persons not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(15) judgment Liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default;
(16) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09(b)(7);
(17) 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;
(18) bankers’ liens upon deposits of funds in favor of banks or other depository institutions (including any right of pledge or right of set-off arising under the general banking conditions of any bank in relation to deposit accounts maintained in the Netherlands), solely to the extent incurred in connection with the maintenance of such deposit accounts in the ordinary course of business;
(19) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary or existing on any asset of any Person that becomes (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition) a Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Subsidiary that is merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into a Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the Issue Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or is so merged, amalgamated or consolidated); provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary (or such merger, amalgamation or consolidation), (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than, in the case of any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, the assets of any special purpose merger Subsidiary that is a party thereto) and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or is so merged, amalgamated or consolidated) and any extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(20) [reserved];
(21) Liens arising from precautionary UCC or PPSA financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases or consignments;
(22) Liens securing (i) Indebtedness and other obligations permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(21) and (ii) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (and any subsequently Incurred Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any such Refinancing Indebtedness);
(23) [reserved];
(24) any interest or title of an owner of equipment or inventory on loan or consignment, or in connection with any conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangement for the sale of goods to the Company or any Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statement filings related thereto;
(25) [reserved];
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(26) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in favor of custom and forwarding agents and similar Persons in respect of imported goods and merchandise in the custody of such Persons;
(27) the reservations, limitations, provisos and conditions, if any, expressed in any original grant from the Crown in right of Canada or any province thereof of any real property or any interest therein or in any comparable grant in jurisdictions other than Canada, provided they do not materially detract from the value of such property or impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of business;
(28) Liens or rights of setoff against credit balances of the Company or any Subsidiary with credit card issuers, credit card processors or merchant service providers for mobile or digitized payment methods to secure obligations of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, to any such credit card issuer, credit card processor, or merchant service provider incurred in the ordinary course of business as a result of fees, charges, expenses and chargebacks;
(29) (i) contractual or statutory Liens of landlords to the extent relating to the property and assets relating to any lease agreements with such landlord, and (ii) contractual Liens of suppliers (including sellers of goods) or customers granted in the ordinary course of business to the extent limited to the property or assets relating to such contract;
(30) Liens arising from the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing or discharging Indebtedness issued pursuant to an indenture, but only if such defeasing or discharging of Indebtedness is not prohibited under this Agreement; provided that such Lien covers proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary solely to defease or discharge the principal, interest, premium, if any, and, if required by the terms of the relevant indenture, fees, costs and expenses due in connection with the defeasance of such Indebtedness;
(31) Liens arising from real property title defects or irregularities which are of a minor nature and which do not materially detract from the value of the real property or impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of business;
(32) other Liens that are contractual rights of setoff;
(33) in the case of (i) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary or (ii) the Capital Stock in any Person that is not a Subsidiary, any encumbrance or restriction, including any options, put and call arrangements, rights of first refusal and similar rights related to Capital Stock in such Subsidiary or such other Person set forth in the organizational documents of such Subsidiary or such other Person or any related joint venture, shareholders’ or similar agreement;
(34) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits, escrow arrangements or similar arrangements made by the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement for a Permitted Acquisition or other transaction permitted hereunder;
(35) Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(22);
(36) any Lien on assets of any Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Guarantor) securing Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Guarantor) permitted by Section 4.09(b)(6)(ii) and obligations relating thereto not constituting Indebtedness;
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(37) Liens in respect of Prior Claims that are unregistered and secure amounts that are not yet due and payable;
(38) Liens on amounts deposited to secure obligations in connection with pension liabilities (Altersteilzeitverpflichtungen) pursuant to § 8a German Partial Retirement Act (Altersteilzeitgesetz) or in connection with time credits (Wertguthaben) pursuant to § 7e German Social Code IV (Sozialgesetzbuch IV);
(39) Deposits of cash collateral securing letters of credit permitted under Section 4.09(b)(19); and
(40) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (39) above, Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Liens securing Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (40) at any one time, does not exceed $10,000,000.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“PIK Interest” means the payment of interest on the Notes on an Interest Payment Date, which is paid in accordance with the terms hereof by increasing the amount of outstanding Notes or, with respect to any Definitive Note, by issuing additional PIK Notes.
“PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario), including the regulations thereto, provided that if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any Lien created hereunder or under any other Note Document on the Collateral is governed by the personal property security legislation or other applicable legislation with respect to personal property security in effect in a jurisdiction in Canada other than the Province of Ontario, “PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act or such other applicable legislation (including the Civil Code (Quebec)) in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction in Canada for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.
“Preferred Stock,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distributions of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.
“PriorClaims” means (a) all liabilities and obligations of any Canadian Guarantor secured by any Liens, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the Liens securing the Obligations, including claims for utilities, taxes (including sales taxes, value added taxes, amounts deducted or withheld or not paid and remitted when due under the Income Tax Act (Canada), as amended, excise taxes, goods and services taxes (“GST”) and harmonized sales taxes (“HST”) payable pursuant to Part IX of theExcise Tax Act (Canada) or similar taxes under provincial or territorial law), the claims of a laborer or worker (whether full-time or part-time) who is owed wages (including any amounts protected by theWage Earner Protection Program Act (Canada) or secured by Section 81.3 or 81.4 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada)), amounts due and not paid for inventory subject to rights of suppliers under Section 81.1 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) or other applicable law (generally known as the “30-day goods rule”), vacation pay, severance pay, employee source deductions, workers’ compensation obligations or pension fund obligations (including claims in respect of, and all amounts currently or past due and not contributed, remitted or paid to, or pursuant to, a Canadian pension plan, any
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Canadian pension laws and any amounts representing any unfunded liability, solvency deficiency or wind-up deficiency whether or not due with respect to any Canadian pension plan, including “normal cost”, “special payments” and any other payments in respect of any funding deficiency or shortfall); and (b) with respect to any German Guarantor, any reserve for amounts secured by any liens or other security interests whatsoever, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the liens granted to secure or for other claims and/or deductions for the Obligations, including without limitation, any such amounts due and not paid for wages, or vacation pay, severance pay, employee deductions, income tax, insolvency costs, amounts due and not paid under any legislation relating to workers’ compensation or to employment insurance amounts currently or past due and not paid for realty, municipal or similar taxes (to the extent impacting personal or movable property), sales tax and pension obligations.
“Rating Agency” means each of S&P and Moody’s, or, if S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Board of Directors) which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.
“Record Date” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means the March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.
“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred in exchange or replacement for, or to refund, refinance, replace, exchange, renew, repay, prepay, purchase, redeem, defease, retire or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) (collectively, ”refinance,” “refinances,” “refinanced” and “refinancing” shall each have a correlative meaning) any Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture (including additional Indebtedness Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, accrued interest and fees and expenses (including fees and expenses relating to the Incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness) in connection with any such refinancing) including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness or Incurred in connection with a repurchase, redemption or similar transaction, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in each case including by exchange offers and private exchanges; provided, however, that:
(1) the Stated Maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be earlier than that of the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(2) the Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(3) such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced (plus, without duplication, any additional Indebtedness Incurred to pay fees, premiums or costs with respect to the instruments governing such existing Indebtedness or tender premiums, defeasance costs, accrued interest and fees and expenses in connection with any such refinancing);
(4) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is Subordinated Obligations, Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, or otherwise subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Subordinated Obligations, Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, respectively,
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on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(5) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is secured, the Liens securing such Refinancing Indebtedness have a Lien priority equal or junior to the Liens securing the Indebtedness being refinanced (and if the Indebtedness being refinanced is unsecured, the Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in respect of such Indebtedness may not be secured with any Liens);
(6) Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor;
(7) Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed or secured by additional guarantors or collateral, respectively, relative to the refinanced Indebtedness; and
(8) Refinancing Indebtedness shall not have a greater ranking or payment priority than the Indebtedness being refinanced.
“Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-3 and/or S-4 dated September 9, 2025, as may be amended or supplemented, registering certain of the Notes described herein under the Securities Act.
“Responsible Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Restricted Investment” means any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings or any successor to its rating agency business.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Second-Out Notes” means the Company’s 7.500% Second-Out Second Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029 issued on or about the Issue Date.
“Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent under the Second-Out Notes Indenture
“Second-Out Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Guarantors, the Second-Out Notes Trustee and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent.
“Second-Out Notes Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as trustee under the Second-Out Notes Indenture.
“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries secured by a Lien.
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“Secured Parties” means the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, the Holders and each other Person who is owed any portion of the Obligations under this Indenture.
“Securities Account” means all “securities accounts” as such term is defined in the UCC or the PPSA, as applicable.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Security Agreement” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the U.S. Security Agreement, the Canadian Security Agreements, the Dutch Security Agreements, the German Security Agreements, the Swiss Security Agreements and the UK Security Agreements.
“Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap” means that the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of Investments by (x) the Company and the Guarantors in, and loans and advances by the Company and the Guarantors to, and Guarantees by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness and other obligations of, Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and (y) the Company and the Domestic Guarantors in, and loans and advances by the Company and the Domestic Guarantors to, and Guarantees by the Company and the Domestic Guarantors of Indebtedness and other obligations of, Foreign Guarantors, in each case of this clause (i), pursuant to clauses (4), (5) and (6) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”, (ii) solely to the extent positive, the Net Cash Pooling Investment, and (iii) the aggregate amount of consideration paid by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with Permitted Acquisitions of Subsidiaries that do not become Guarantors, shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
“Similar Business” means any business similar in nature to any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is reasonably related, complementary, incidental or ancillary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, in each case, as determined in good faith by the Company.
“SpecifiedCollateral” means that portion of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement).
“Specified Indebtedness” means Subordinated Obligations, Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, unsecured Indebtedness, and Indebtedness secured on a junior basis to the Liens securing the Obligations in respect of the Notes.
“Specified Jurisdiction” means any of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, England and Wales.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in the agreement governing or certificate relating to such Indebtedness as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but not including any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
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“Subordinated Obligation” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to its terms.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means (1) any corporation, unlimited liability company, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total ordinary 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 (or Persons performing similar functions) or (2) any partnership, joint venture limited liability company or similar entity of which more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, is, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (a) such Person, (b) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (c) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Super Priority Notes” means any additional Notes having the payment priority specified under Section 6.13.
“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions and any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be a Swap Agreement.
“Swiss Guarantor” means any Guarantor incorporated and organized under the laws of Switzerland or which is considered to be tax resident in Switzerland for Swiss Withholding Tax purposes.
“SwissSecurity Agreements” means, collectively, any Swiss law governed security agreement entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any Note Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Swiss Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company incorporated and organized under the laws of Switzerland or which is considered to be tax resident in Switzerland for Swiss Withholding Tax purpose.
“Swiss Withholding Tax” means taxes imposed under the Swiss Withholding Tax Act.
“Swiss Withholding Tax Act” means the Swiss Federal Act on the Withholding Tax of 13 October 1965 (Bundesgesetz über die Verrechnungssteuer), together with the related ordinances, regulations and guidelines, all as amended and applicable from time to time.
“Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.
“Synthetic Lease Obligations” means, as to any Person, an amount equal to the sum, without duplication, of (a) the obligations of such person to pay rent or other amounts under any Synthetic Lease which are attributable to principal and (b) the amount of any purchase price payment under any Synthetic
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Lease assuming the lessee exercises the option to purchase the leased property at the end of the lease term. A Synthetic Lease Obligation shall be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased and such property shall be deemed to be owned by the lessee.
“Total Assets” means, at any date of determination, the consolidated total assets of the Company as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Month of the Company for which financial statements have theretofore been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 4.06 as adjusted to any pro forma event occurring pursuant to the terms of this Indenture since such date.
“TransactionSupport Agreement” means that certain Transaction Support Agreement dated August 13, 2025, among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and the supporting noteholders party thereto.
“Transactions” means those certain transactions contemplated by the Transaction Support Agreement and Registration Statement.
“Transfer Restricted Notes” means Definitive Notes and any other Notes that bear or are required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, until a successor, if any, replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
“UK Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is a UK Subsidiary.
“UK Security Agreements” means, collectively, (a) that certain English law all asset security agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the UK Guarantors and the Notes Collateral Agent and (b) any other English law pledge or security agreement (including any supplemental agreement or accession agreement in respect of a UK Security Agreement) entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any other Note Party (as required by this Indenture or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“UK Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company incorporated in England and Wales.
“Unfinanced Capital Expenditures” means capital expenditures (a) not financed with the proceeds of any incurrence of long-term Indebtedness (other than the incurrence of any loans, Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations) or the proceeds of any sale or issuance of Capital Stock or equity contributions, and (b) that are not reimbursed by a third person (excluding the Company or any Guarantor or any of its Affiliates) in the period such expenditures are made pursuant to a written agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Unfinanced Capital Expenditures shall include capital expenditures financed with the proceeds of any loans, Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations.
“Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in any applicable jurisdiction.
“United States” means the United States of America.
“U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
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“U.S. Security Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, between the Company, the Domestic Guarantors and the Notes Collateral Agent, and, as the context requires, any other pledge or security agreement entered into after the Issue Date by the Company or any Domestic Guarantor (as required by this Agreement or any other Note Document), or any other Person, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Voting Stock” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees, as applicable, of such Person.
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
| Term | Defined in Section |
|---|---|
| “Affiliate Transaction” | 4.14(a) |
| “Agent Members” | 2.1(b) of Appendix A |
| “Applicable Procedures” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Asset Disposition Offer” | 4.16(c) |
| “Asset Disposition Offer Amount” | 3.10(b) |
| “Asset Disposition Offer Period” | 3.10(b) |
| “Asset Disposition Proceeds” | 4.16(b) |
| “Asset Disposition Purchase Date” | 3.10(b) |
| “Auditor’s Determination” | 10.02(a) |
| “Authentication Order” | 2.03(c) |
| “Bondholder Call” | 4.06(c) |
| “Capital Impairment” | 10.02(a) |
| “Change of Control Offer” | 4.15(a) |
| “Change of Control Payment” | 4.15(a) |
| “Change of Control Payment Date” | 4.15(a)(2) |
| “Clearstream” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Commission” | 1.04 |
| “Corresponding Debt” | 13.20(b) |
| “Covenant Defeasance” | 8.03(a) |
| “Definitive Notes Legend” | 2.2(e)(i) of Appendix A |
| “Distribution Compliance Period” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Enforcement of Claims” | 10.02(a) |
| “ERISA Legend” | 2.2(e) of Appendix A |
| “Event of Default” | 6.01(a) |
| “Excess Proceeds” | 4.16(c) |
| “Expiration Date” | 1.05(j) |
| “Global Note” | 2.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Global Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) of Appendix A |
| “Guaranteed Obligations” | 10.01(a) |
| “IAI” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “IAI Global Note” | 2.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Indenture Currency” | 13.21(b) |
| “indenture securities” | 1.04 |
| “indenture security holder” | 1.04 |
| “indenture to be qualified” | 1.04 |
| “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” | 1.04 |
| “Judgment Currency” | 13.21(b) |
| “Legal Defeasance” | 8.02(a) |
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| Term | Defined in Section |
|---|---|
| “Management Notification” | 10.02(a) |
| “Note Register” | 2.04(a) |
| “obligor” | 1.04 |
| “Parallel Debt” | 13.20(a) |
| “Parallel Debt Undertaking” | 13.20(a) |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.04(a) |
| “PDF” | 13.16 |
| “PIK Notes” | 2 of Exhibit A |
| “PIK Payment” | 2 of Exhibit A |
| “Premises” | 11.06(a) |
| “Proceeds Trigger Date” | 4.16(b) |
| “QIB” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Registrar” | 2.04(a) |
| “Regulation S” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Regulation S Global Note” | 2.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Regulation S Global Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) of Appendix A |
| “Relevant Asset” | 10.02(a) |
| “Restricted Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) of Appendix A |
| “Restricted Payment” | 4.08(a) |
| “Rule 144” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Rule 144A” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Rule 144A Global Note” | 2.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Separated Notes” | 2.01 |
| “United States” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Unrestricted Global Note” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “U.S. person” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
Section 1.03. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term defined in Section 1.01 or Section 1.02 has the meaning assigned to it therein, and a term used herein that is defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, shall have the meaning assigned to it therein;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) “or” is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular;
(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
(6) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Appendix,” “Article,” “Section,” “clause,” “Schedule” or “Exhibit” refers to an Appendix, Article, Section, clause, Schedule or Exhibit, as the case may be, of this Indenture;
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(7) the words “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not any particular Article, Section, clause or other subdivision;
(8) “including” means including without limitation;
(9) references to sections of, or rules under, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;
(10) unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements or instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture; and
(11) in the event that a transaction meets the criteria of more than one category of permitted transactions or listed exceptions, the Company may classify such transaction as it, in its sole discretion, determines.
Section 1.04. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act as applicable to this Indenture, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture upon and after, but not before, the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC;
“indenture securities” means the Notes;
“indenture security holder” means a Holder of a Note;
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and
“obligor” on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note Guarantees, respectively.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rules under the Trust Indenture Act have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.05. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company and the Guarantors. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any
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purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors, 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 (1) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof or (2) in any other manner deemed reasonably sufficient by the Trustee. Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same.
(c) Subject to Section 9.07, the ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee, the Company or the Guarantors in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.
(e) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, or to vote on or consent to any action authorized or permitted to be taken by Holders; provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in clause (f) below. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Company 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, any such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or vote or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation or vote. If any record date is set pursuant to this clause (e), the Holders on such record date, and only such Holders, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action (including revocation of any action), whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes, or each affected Holder, as applicable, on such record date. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.02.
(f) The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to join in the giving or making of (1) any notice of default under Section 6.01, (2) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 6.02, (3) any direction referred to in Section 6.05 or (4) any request to pursue a remedy as permitted in Section 6.06. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes or each affected Holder, as applicable, on such record date. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.02.
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(g) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.
(h) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.
(i) The Company may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by a Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary, if any, to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders; provided that if such a record date is fixed, only the beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such beneficial owners remain beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date.
(j) With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.05, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 13.02, on or prior to both the existing and the new Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.05, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 30th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this clause (j).
Section 1.06. Quebec Interpretive Provisions.
For purposes of the interpretation or construction of this Indenture pursuant to the laws of the Province of Quebec, for purposes of any Collateral located in the Province of Quebec or charged by any deed of hypothec (or any other Collateral Document) and for all other purposes pursuant to which the interpretation or construction of any other Collateral Document may be subject to the laws of the Province of Quebec or a court or tribunal exercising jurisdiction in the Province of Quebec, (a) “personal property” shall be deemed to include “movable property”, (b) “real property” shall be deemed to include “immovable property”, (c) “tangible property” shall be deemed to include “corporeal property”, (d) “intangible property” shall be deemed to include “incorporeal property”, (e) “security interest”, “mortgage” and “lien” shall be deemed to include a “hypothec”, a “reservation of ownership”, “prior claim” and a “resolutory clause,” (f) all references to filing, registering or recording under the PPSA shall be deemed to include publication under the Civil Code of Quebec, (g) all references to “perfection” of or “perfected” Liens shall be deemed to include a reference to an “opposable” or “set up” Liens as against third parties, (h) any “right of offset”, “right of setoff” or similar expression shall be deemed to include a “right of compensation”, (i) “goods” shall be deemed to include “corporeal movable property” other than chattel paper, documents of title,
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instruments, money and securities, (j) an “agent” shall be deemed to include a “mandatary,” (k) “construction liens” shall be deemed to include “legal hypothecs in favour of persons having taken part in the construction or renovation of an immovable”, (l) “joint and several” shall be deemed to include “solidary” and “jointly and severally” shall be deemed to include “solidarily” (m) “gross negligence or willful misconduct” shall be deemed to be “intentional or gross fault”, (n) “beneficial ownership” shall be deemed to include “ownership on behalf of another as mandatary”, (o) “legal title” shall be deemed to include “holding title on behalf of an owner as mandatary or prete-nom”, (p) “easement” shall be deemed to include “servitude”, (q) “priority” shall be deemed to include “prior claim” or “rank”, as applicable, (r) “survey” shall be deemed to include “certificate of location and plan”, (s) “fee simple title” and “fee title” shall be deemed to include “right of ownership”, (t) “foreclosure” shall be deemed to include “the exercise of a hypothecary right”, (u) “leasehold interest” shall be deemed to include “valid rights resulting from a lease”, (v) “lease” for personal or movable property shall be deemed to include a “contract of leasing (credit-bail)” and (x) “deposit account” shall include a “financial account” as defined in Article 2713.6 of the Civil Code of Quebec.
Section 1.07. [Reserved].
Section 1.08. Dutch Terms
As used in this Indenture, where it relates to a Dutch Guarantor, a reference to: (i) organizational documents means the deed of incorporation (akte van oprichting), an up-to-date and certified copy of the articles of association (statuten), a copy of any (board or other) regulation (bestuursreglement) and an up-to-date extract of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel); (ii) a necessary corporate or other organizational action where applicable includes without limitation: (A) any action required to comply with the Works Councils Act of the Netherlands (Wet op de ondernemingsraden); and (B) obtaining an unconditional positive advice, from the competent works council(s) (ondernemingsraad); (iii) any Lien and any security interest includes any mortgage (hypotheek), pledge (pandrecht), retention of title arrangement (eigendomsvoorbehoud), privilege (voorrecht), right of retention (recht van retentie), right to reclaim goods (recht van reclame), and, in general, any right in rem (zakelijk recht) created for the purpose of granting security (goederenrechtelijkzekerheidsrecht); (iv) a bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, winding up, or dissolution (and any of those terms) includes a Dutch entity being declared bankrupt (failliet verklaard) or dissolved (ontbonden); (v) a moratorium includes (voorlopige) surseance van betaling and granted a moratorium includes (voorlopige) surseance verleend; (vi) a trustee, includes a curator and a liquidator includes a curator; (vii) an administrator includes a bewindvoerder, a beoogd bewinvoerder, a herstructureringsdeskundige or an observator; (viii) a receiver or an administrative receiver does include a curator or bewindvoerder; (ix) any “procedure or step” taken in connection with insolvency proceedings includes a Dutch Guarantor having filed a notice under Section 36 of the Tax Collection Act of the Netherlands (Invorderingswet 1990) or Section 60 of the Social Insurance Financing Act of the Netherlands (Wet Financiering Sociale Verzekeringen) in conjunction with Section 36 of the Tax Collection Act of the Netherlands (Invorderingswet 1990); (x) an attachment includes a beslag; (xi) a director includes a managing director (bestuurder) and board of directors includes a managing board (bestuur); (xii) a reorganization includes statutory proceedings for the restructuring of debt (akkoordprocedure) under the Dutch Bankruptcy Act (Faillissementswet); (xiii) a director includes a managing director (bestuurder) and board of directors includes a managing board (bestuur) and (xiv) a “subsidiary” includes a dochtermaatschappij as defined in Article 2:24a of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek). Where “the Netherlands” or “Dutch” is referred to it refers only to the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its laws respectively.
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Section 1.09. German Terms
As used in this Indenture, where it relates to a German Guarantor, a reference to: (i) gross negligence includes grobeFahrlässigkeit; (ii) negligence includes Fahrlässigkeit; (iii) a security interest includes any mortgage (Grundschuld, Hypothek), pledge (Pfandrecht), retention of title arrangement (Eigentumsvorbehalt), right of retention (Zurückbehaltungsrecht), right to reclaim goods (Herausgabeansprüche), and, in general, any right in rem created for the purpose of granting security; (iv) a winding-up, administration or dissolution (and any of those terms) includes a German entity being declared bankrupt (insolvent) or dissolved (ausfgelöst); (v) any step or procedure taken in connection with insolvency proceedings includes a German entity having applied for bankruptcy (Insolvenzantrag) or the opening of bankruptcy proceedings (Insolvenzeröffnung); and (vi) an administrator includes an insolvency administrator (Insolvenzverwalter) and insolvency trustee (Sachwalter).
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Amount of Notes.
The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $155,300,675.
The Company may from time to time after the Issue Date issue Additional Notes under this Indenture in an unlimited principal amount, so long as (i) the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such Additional Notes is at such time permitted by Section 4.09(b) and (ii) such Additional Notes are issued in compliance with the other applicable provisions of this Indenture. With respect to any Additional Notes issued after the Issue Date (except for payments of PIK Interest, Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10, 3.04, 3.06, 4.15(b)) or Appendix A (the “Appendix”)), there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors of the Company and (b) (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officer’s Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:
(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture;
(2) the issue price and issuance date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest on such Additional Notes shall accrue; and
(3) if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Notes, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Notes in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.2 of the Appendix in which any such Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Notes registered, or any transfer of such Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof.
On any Interest Payment Date on which the Company pays interest in PIK Interest (a “PIK Payment”) with respect to a Global Note, the Trustee shall (subject to the Company delivering to the Trustee
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and the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) written notification, executed by an Officer of the Company setting forth the amount of PIK Interest to be paid on such Interest Payment Date and directing the Trustee and the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) to increase the principal amount of the Global Notes in accordance with this paragraph, which notification the Trustee and Paying Agent shall be entitled to rely upon) increase the principal amount of such Global Note by an amount equal to the interest payable as PIK Interest, rounded up to the nearest whole dollar, for the relevant Interest Period on the principal amount of such Global Note as of the relevant Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, to the credit of the Holders of such Global Note on such Record Date, and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee with respect to such Global Note to reflect such increase. On any Interest Payment Date on which the Company pays PIK Interest with respect to a Definitive Note or otherwise issues definitive PIK Notes, the principal amount of any definitive PIK Notes issued to any Holder, for the relevant Interest Period on the principal amount of such Note as of the relevant Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, shall be rounded up to the nearest whole dollar.
Section 2.02. Form and Dating; Terms.
Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated into and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Company or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
If any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will be issued as a separate series under this Indenture and will have a separate CUSIP number and ISIN from the Initial Notes. Any Additional Notes may be issued with the benefit of one or more supplemental indentures to this Indenture.
Section 2.03. Execution and Authentication.
(a) At least one Officer shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Company by manual, electronic or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office or is no longer authorized to represent the Company at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
(b) A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
(c) On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes. In addition, at any
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time and from time to time (but subject to Section 2.01), the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued hereunder.
(d) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. 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 Holders, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
(e) The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company (1) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $155,300,675 (comprised of one or more Global Notes), (2) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes, (3) subject to the terms of this Indenture, PIK Notes and (4) any Unrestricted Global Notes issued in exchange for any of the foregoing in accordance with this Indenture. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes, Additional Notes, PIK Notes or Unrestricted Global Notes.
Section 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.
(a) The Company shall maintain at least one office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and at least one office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (“NoteRegister”) and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co- registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
(b) The Company initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
(c) Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have responsibility or liability for actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
Section 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall, no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest paid in cash on any of the Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held in trust for the Holders entitled to the same, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure so to act. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest paid in cash on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment.
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While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon payment over to the Trustee, and upon accounting for any funds disbursed, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section 2.06. Holder Lists.
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 all Holders and shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least two 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 the Holders, and the Company shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(a).
Section 2.07. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A.
(b) Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (1) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (2) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption, or tendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in connection with a Change of Control Offer or an Asset Disposition Offer, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part or (3) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(c) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company 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, premium, if any, and (subject to the Record Date provisions of the Notes) interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(d) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02, the Company shall execute, and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.
(e) At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the replacement Global Notes or Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Appendix A so long as the requirements of this Indenture are satisfied.
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(f) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.07 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by mail or by facsimile or electronic transmission.
Section 2.08. Replacement Notes.
(a) If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the New York UCC are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Company or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Company or the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the New York UCC (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. Such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of (i) the Trustee to protect the Trustee or (ii) the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof. Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company.
(b) The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.
Section 2.09. Outstanding Notes.
(a) 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, those paid pursuant to Section 2.08, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, those described in this Section 2.09 as not outstanding and those that are subject to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article 8. Except as set forth in Section 2.10, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.
(b) If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a “protected purchaser”, as such term is defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York.
(c) If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue from and after the date of such payment.
(d) If a Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on the maturity date, any redemption date or any date of purchase pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, money sufficient to pay Notes payable or to be redeemed or purchased on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.
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Section 2.10. Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes beneficially owned by the Company, or by any Affiliate of the Company, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in actually relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
Section 2.11. Temporary Notes.
In the event that Definitive Notes are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders, or beneficial holders, respectively, of Notes under this Indenture.
Section 2.12. Cancellation.
The Company 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 or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Evidence of the disposal of all cancelled Notes shall, upon the written request of the Company, be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13. Defaulted Interest.
(a) If the Company 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 on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing (which notice may be electronic) of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.13. The Company shall fix such special record date and payment date. At least 15 days before such special record date, the Company shall mail (or send electronically to DTC, in the case of Global Notes) to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest, and interest payable on defaulted interest, if any, to be paid. The Company may make payment of any defaulted interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements (if
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applicable) of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed and, upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this sentence, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.13 and for greater certainty, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue interest, which were carried by such other Note.
Section 2.14. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP or ISIN numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, CUSIP or ISIN numbers shall be used in notices of redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or exchange or Offer to Purchase shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing (which notice may be electronic) of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN numbers.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be sent or caused to be sent to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee) but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate (which may be withdrawn prior to the date such notice of redemption is given) setting forth (1) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (2) the redemption date, (3) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (4) the redemption price, if then ascertainable.
Notwithstanding the notice requirements in Section 3.03, if the redemption price is not known at the time such notice is to be given, the actual redemption price, calculated as described in the terms of the Notes to be redeemed, shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the redemption date.
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.
(a) If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.07 or purchased in an Offer to Purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed or (2) if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot in accordance with the Applicable Procedures or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems to be fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the then outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.
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(b) The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof; provided that no Notes of $1.00 in principal amount or less shall be redeemed or purchased in part. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.
(c) After the redemption date or purchase date, upon surrender of a Note to be redeemed or purchased in part only, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the original Note, representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or not purchased, shall be issued in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note (or appropriate book entries shall be made to reflect such partial redemption).
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
(a) Subject to Section 3.10, the Company shall send or deliver by electronic transmission in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, or cause to be sent (or delivered by electronic transmission in accordance with the Applicable Procedures) notices of redemption of Notes not less than 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to this Article 3 at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 12. Except as set forth in Section 3.07(f), notices of redemption may not be conditional. Notices to the Trustee may be given by email in PDF format.
(b) The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including CUSIP and ISIN number, if applicable) and shall state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price, including the portion thereof representing any accrued and unpaid interest; provided that in connection with a redemption under Section 3.07(d), the notice need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation;
(3) if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that is to be redeemed;
(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(7) the paragraph or subparagraph of the Notes or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;
(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or ISIN number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and
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(9) if applicable, any condition to such redemption.
(c) At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be sent or caused to be sent to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 3.03(b).
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price (except as provided for in Section 3.07(f)). The notice, if sent in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Section 3.05, on and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.
(a) No later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the redemption or purchase date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the applicable Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Holder of record on such Record Date. The applicable Paying Agent shall promptly distribute to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed or repurchased the applicable redemption or purchase price thereof and accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.
(b) If the Company complies with the provisions of Section 3.05(a), on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase whether or not such Notes are presented for payment, and the Holders of such Notes shall have no further rights with respect to such Notes except the right to receive such payment of the redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such Notes upon surrender of such Notes. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date in respect of such Note will be paid on such redemption or purchase date to the Person in whose name such Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders whose Notes shall be subject to redemption by the Company. If any Note called for redemption or purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 3.05(a), interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01.
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Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.
Upon surrender and cancellation of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to the Holder (or cause to be transferred by book entry) at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or purchased; provided that each new Note shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption.
(a) [reserved].
(b) [reserved].
(c) [reserved].
(d) The Company may, on any one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice pursuant to Section 3.03, at the redemption price of 107.500% (expressed as a percentage of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable date of redemption.
(e) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06.
(f) Any redemption notice in connection with this Section 3.07 may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. If such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed.
(g) The Company may acquire Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws, so long as such acquisition does not otherwise violate the terms of this Indenture.
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.
The Company will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
Section 3.09. [Reserved].
Section 3.10. Offers to Repurchase by Application of Excess Proceeds.
(a) In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.16, the Company is required to commence an Asset Disposition Offer, the Company will follow the procedures specified below.
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(b) The Asset Disposition Offer will remain open for a period of 20 Business Days following its commencement, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the “Asset Disposition Offer Period”). No later than five Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period (the “Asset Disposition Purchase Date”), the Company will apply all Excess Proceeds to the purchase of the aggregate principal amount of Notes required to be offered for purchase pursuant to Section 4.16 (the “Asset Disposition Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount of Notes has been so validly tendered, all Notes validly tendered in response to the Asset Disposition Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments on the Notes are made.
(c) If the Asset Disposition Purchase Date is on or after a Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Asset Disposition Purchase Date shall be paid, in cash, on the Asset Disposition Purchase Date to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date. Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the purchase price for Notes accepted by the Company for purchase pursuant to this Section 3.10, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof purchased on the Asset Disposition Purchase Date.
(d) Upon the commencement of an Asset Disposition Offer, the Company shall send a notice to each of the Holders or otherwise deliver such notice in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, 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 Asset Disposition Offer. The Asset Disposition Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the terms of the Asset Disposition Offer, shall state:
(1) that an Asset Disposition Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 3.10 and Section 4.16 and the expiration time of the Asset Disposition Offer Period;
(2) the Asset Disposition Offer Amount, the purchase price, including the portion thereof representing any accrued and unpaid interest, and the Asset Disposition Purchase Date;
(3) that Notes must be tendered in integral multiples of $1.00, and any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and will continue to accrue interest;
(4) that, unless the Company defaults in making the payment, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer will cease to accrue interest on and after the Asset Disposition Purchase Date;
(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Asset Disposition Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to such Note completed, the Paying Agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Asset Disposition Purchase Date;
(6) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives at the address specified in the notice, not later than the expiration of the Asset Disposition Offer Period, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes the Holder tendered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Note purchased;
(7) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by the holders thereof exceeds the Asset Disposition Offer Amount, then the Notes will be purchased on a pro rata basis
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based on the aggregate principal amount of the Notes tendered, and the selection of the Notes for purchase shall be made by the Company by such method as the Company in its sole discretion shall deem to be fair and appropriate subject to the Applicable Procedures, although no Note having a principal amount of $1.00 shall be purchased in part;
(8) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer) (the unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof);
(9) the other procedures, as determined by the Company, consistent with this Section 3.10 that a Holder must follow; and
(10) the CUSIP and ISIN numbers of the Notes.
(e) On or before the Asset Disposition Purchase Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary or as otherwise provided in Section 4.16(c), the Asset Disposition Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, or, if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, all Notes so tendered in integral multiples of $1.00; provided that if, following repurchase of a portion of a Note, the remaining principal amount of such Note outstanding immediately after such repurchase would be less than $1.00, then the portion of such Note so repurchased shall be reduced so that the remaining principal amount of such Note outstanding immediately after such repurchase is $1.00. The Company will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee the Notes so accepted and to the Trustee and the applicable Paying Agent an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes so accepted and that such Notes were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.10.
(f) The Paying Agent or the Company, as the case may be, will promptly, but in no event later than five Business Days after termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period, mail (or otherwise send in accordance with the Applicable Procedures) to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes so validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by such holder and accepted by the Company for purchase, and the Company will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee, upon delivery of an Authentication Order from the Company, will authenticate and mail (or otherwise send in accordance with the Applicable Procedures) (or cause to be transferred by book entry) such new Note to such Holder (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate shall be required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or send such new Note) in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. Any Note not so accepted will be promptly mailed or sent by the Company to the Holder thereof.
(g) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of any conflict.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.10 or Section 4.16, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.10 shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06.
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ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.
(a) The Company will pay, or cause to be paid, the principal, premium, if any, Applicable Premium and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, Applicable Premium and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary, holds as of 11:00 a.m. (New York City) time, on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, Applicable Premium and interest then due (or, in the case of a PIK Payment, by increasing the outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Notes or issuing PIK Notes in accordance with this Indenture and as provided in the Notes); provided that PIK Interest shall be deemed paid on the date due if, in accordance with the terms hereof and of the Notes, PIK Notes are issued or the principal amount of the Global Notes is increased in an amount equal to the amount of the applicable amount of interest for such Interest Period.
(b) The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Laws) on overdue principal and premium, if any, at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post- petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Laws) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.
(c) Upon the occurrence of a Borrowing Base Overage, the rate of interest shall be immediately increased by an additional fixed rate of 2.00% per annum (with such increase being solely in the form of PIK Interest) with respect to all remaining days in the Interest Period during which such Borrowing Base Overage occurred and is outstanding and for all following Interest Periods during which a Borrowing Base Overage has occurred and is outstanding. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate and the Holders of the occurrence, and any subsequent conclusion, of any Borrowing Base Overage.
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company 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 Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company and the Guarantors in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company 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 Company 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.
The Company may also from time to time designate additional 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. The Company 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.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.04.
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Section 4.03. Taxes.
The Company and the Guarantors shall pay or cause to be paid all taxes required to have been paid by it (including in its capacity as withholding agent), except (a) any taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which the Company or such Guarantor has set aside on its books reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect
Section 4.04. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company and each Guarantor 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 of this Indenture; and the Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant 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 4.05. Corporate Existence.
(a) Subject to Article 5, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (a) its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary and (b) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership, limited liability company, unlimited liability company or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Company in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided further that this Section 4.05 does not prohibit any transaction otherwise permitted by Section 4.16 (or that does not constitute an Asset Disposition).
(b) Until the satisfaction in full of all Obligations under the Notes, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Indenture, the Company will operate its business and operations in the ordinary course of business and materially consistent with past practice.
Section 4.06. Reports and Other Information.
(a) The Company will furnish or file with the Trustee, within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If the Company is not subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding sentence with the SEC within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing (in which case the Company shall deliver to the Trustee with written instructions to deliver to the Holders (in lieu of filing with the SEC) within the time periods for filing applicable to a filer that is not an “accelerated filer” as defined in the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act), but in such event the reports specified in the preceding sentence shall not be required to contain certain disclosures relating to the Company’s controls and procedures, corporate governance,
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code of ethics, director independence, market for the Company’s equity securities and executive compensation. the Company will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. For purposes of this Section 4.06, the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and information to, or filed such reports and information with, the Trustee and the holders of the Notes as required by this covenant if it has filed such reports or information with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system or otherwise made such reports or information publicly available on a freely accessible page on the Company’s website. The Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such reports and information have been filed or have been posted on such website.
(b) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company will not be obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, so long as the Company provides such information to the Trustee and the Holders and makes available such information to prospective purchasers of the Notes, in each case at the Company’s expense and by the applicable date the Company would be required to file such information pursuant to the preceding paragraph and (ii) the Company will not be obligated to provide to the Trustee or the Holders or make available to prospective purchasers of the Notes any materials for which it has sought and received confidential treatment by the SEC. In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to Holders and prospective purchasers of the Notes, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
(c) In addition, no later than five Business Days after the date the annual and quarterly financial information for the prior fiscal period have been filed or furnished pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Company shall also hold live quarterly conference calls with the opportunity to ask questions of management for the benefit of the beneficial owners of the Notes, securities analysts and market making financial institutions (any such call, a “Bondholder Call”); provided that, so long as the Company holds quarterly conference calls for investors of its Common Stock, it shall not be required to hold Bondholder Calls. If the Company holds any Bondholder Call, no fewer than five calendar days prior to the date such Bondholder Call is to be held, the Company shall issue a press release to the appropriate U.S. wire services announcing such Bondholder Call for the benefit of beneficial owners of the Notes, securities analysts and market making financial institutions, which press release shall contain the time and the date of such Bondholder Call and direct the recipients thereof to contact an individual at the Company (for whom contact information shall be provided in such notice) to obtain information on how to access such Bondholder Call.
(d) Upon the election by any Holder that is an IAI Investor to opt into receiving the following, the Company shall promptly (i) notify such IAI Investor of any Event of Default under the ABL Credit Agreement or any other Material Indebtedness and (ii) provide such IAI Investor with any material certificates, notices, or other documents (including any “borrowing base” certificate) delivered under the ABL Credit Agreement or any other material indebtedness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, any breach by the Company of the foregoing obligations is waivable solely at the discretion of the applicable IAI Investor, and the consent of any other Holder of Notes shall not be required.
Section 4.07. Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the Trust Indenture Act) will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, a certificate from its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the
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preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company and each Guarantor have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company and each Guarantor have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company and each Guarantor are taking or propose to take with respect thereto).
(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary gives any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Company will promptly (which shall be within ten Business Days following the date on which the Company becomes aware of such Default, receives notice of such Default or becomes aware of such action, as applicable) send to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereof.
Section 4.08. Limitation on Restricted Payments.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution (whether made in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Capital Stock in the Company or any Subsidiary, or any payment or distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, exchange, conversion, cancellation or termination of any Capital Stock in the Company or any Subsidiary;
(2) purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;
(3) make any principal payment on, or purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled repayment, scheduled sinking fund payment or scheduled maturity, any Specified Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Guarantor or Indebtedness of a Guarantor owing to and held by any other Guarantor permitted under Section 4.09(b); or
(4) make any Restricted Investment
(all such payments and other actions referred to in clauses (1) through (4) of this Section 4.08(a) (other than any exception thereto) shall be referred to as a “Restricted Payment”).
(b) The provisions of Section 4.08(a) will not prohibit:
(i) payments of or in respect of Specified Indebtedness solely by issuance of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(ii) refinancings of Specified Indebtedness with the proceeds of Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.09;
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(iii) dividends or distributions payable solely in Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or convert its Capital Stock into, or otherwise acquire its Capital Stock solely in exchange for, other Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock);
(iv) payment of secured Specified Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of (A) any voluntary sale or transfer of any assets securing such Indebtedness or (B) any casualty or condemnation proceeding (including a disposition in lieu thereof) of any assets securing such Indebtedness;
(v) dividends paid within 60 days after the date of declaration if at such date of declaration such dividend would have complied with this covenant;
(vi) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions with respect to its capital stock, partnership or membership interests or other similar Capital Stock, or make other Restricted Payments in respect of its Capital Stock, in each case ratably to the holders of such Capital Stock (or, if not ratably, on a basis more favorable to the Company and the Subsidiaries);
(vii) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments (excluding non-cash Restricted Payments consisting of Collateral and excluding any acquisitions of the 2026 Notes) in an aggregate amount, when taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (7), not to exceed $5,000,000 (with the Fair Market Value of each Restricted Payment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
(viii) payments of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due and mandatory prepayments in respect of any Specified Indebtedness and expenses and indemnity in respect of such Specified Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;
(ix) any payment in cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of the Company’s Capital Stock representing insignificant interests in the Company in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock in the Company;
(x) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Company may purchase Capital Stock from its or its Subsidiaries’ employees in connection with the satisfaction of any such employee’s tax withholding obligations pursuant to employee benefit plans, and payments of any corresponding amounts to the appropriate Governmental Authority, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 during any Fiscal Year;
(xi) (i) Restricted Payments by the Company and each Subsidiary to the Company or any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or (ii) Restricted Payments by any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to the Company or any Subsidiary; or
(xii) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or acquisition or retirement of the 2026 Notes prior to their maturity (1) for cash, provided that (A) the consideration payable in respect thereof shall not exceed the principal amount thereof (and accrued and unpaid interest thereon) and (B) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or acquisition or retirement, (i) Availability on a pro forma basis on such date, on each day during the immediately preceding thirty (30) day period, and as projected by the Company in
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good faith for the subsequent six months is equal to or greater than the greater of (x) $25,000,000 and (y) 25% of the Line Cap, and (ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the most recently ended twelve Fiscal Month period for which financial statements have been delivered to the Trustee under Section 4.06 is at least 0.95 to 1.00 or (2) in exchange for Notes issued in compliance with Section 4.09(b)(4).
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of such Restricted Payment (without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) of the assets or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. The amount of any Restricted Payment paid in cash shall be its face amount.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (x) the Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make any Investment, disposition, distribution, or other transfer (either directly or indirectly through its ownership of any Capital Stock of any other Person) of any Eligible Intellectual Property (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement, as in effect on the date hereof), or any other Material Intellectual Property, in or to any Person that is not Guarantor, (y) the Company and the Domestic Guarantors will not make any Investment, disposition, distribution, or other transfer (either directly or indirectly through its ownership of any Capital Stock of any other Person) of any Eligible Intellectual Property, or any other Material Intellectual Property, in or to any Person that is not a Domestic Guarantor, and (z) any Investment, disposition, distribution, or other transfer made by the Company or any Subsidiary in or to any joint venture must be made for a bona fide business purpose, not in contemplation of adversely affecting the Holders’ interests in the Guarantees or the Collateral, and not in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness.
Section 4.09. Limitation on Indebtedness.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness).
(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) will not prohibit the Incurrence of the following Indebtedness:
(1) the incurrence by the Company or the Guarantors of Indebtedness under (x) the ABL Facility or one or more other Credit Facilities, the guarantees thereof and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of (i) $180,000,000, and (ii) a borrowing base equal to the sum of (1) 90.0% of the face amount of all credit card receivable owned by the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent Fiscal Month preceding the date of determination, (2) 90.0% of the face amount of all other accounts receivable owned by the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent Fiscal Month preceding the date of determination, (3) 100.0% of the book value of all inventory owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the Fiscal Month preceding the date of determination, and (4) 70% of the appraised value of intellectual property (determined based on most recent appraisal of such intellectual property); provided that any reductions in the IP Cap and/or IP Advance Rate, in each case, as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement, shall not reduce amount of availability available under this clause (ii), and (y) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the ABL Facility or any other Credit Facilities referred to in the foregoing clause (x); provided, that Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (1) is subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
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(2) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the Second-Out Notes issued on the Issue Date;
(3) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the 2026 Notes in existence on the Issue Date;
(4) (i) Indebtedness of the Company represented by the Notes issued on the Issue Date, (ii) Indebtedness consisting of additional Notes issued following the Issue Date to Consenting Noteholders in exchange for 2026 Notes pursuant to, and in compliance with the terms of, the Transaction Support Agreement, (iii) Indebtedness consisting of the PIK Notes issued following the Issue Date in connection with a Borrowing Base Overage, and (iv) Indebtedness of any Guarantor represented by a Note Guarantee;
(5) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22) and (23) of this Section 4.09(b)), provided that any amounts of any such Indebtedness paid down in connection with any purchases, repurchases, redemptions or otherwise (other than in connection with a substantially concurrent refinancing by way of Refinancing Indebtedness) shall be reduced from any amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (5) that would otherwise be permitted to be Incurred using Refinancing Indebtedness;
(6) (i) Guarantees incurred in compliance with Permitted Investments (other than clause (22) of the definition thereof), provided that in the event such Indebtedness that is being Guaranteed under this clause (i) is a Subordinated Obligation or a Guarantor Subordinated Obligation, then the related Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantee, as the case may be, and (ii) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries (other than Foreign Guarantors) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $12,500,000 (inclusive of lines of credit of Foreign Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date) at any time outstanding;provided that such Indebtedness under this clause (ii) shall not be Guaranteed by, or secured by any property of, any Domestic Subsidiary or Guarantor;
(7) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary (A) incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, provided that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets or (B) assumed in connection with the acquisition of any fixed or capital assets, and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (7) shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(8) Indebtedness of the Company to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Company or any other Subsidiary;provided that (i) such Indebtedness shall not have been transferred to any Person other than the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) any such Indebtedness owing by (x) the Company or a Guarantor to a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or (y) the Company or a Guarantor to another Guarantor, except to the extent owing by a Domestic Guarantor to another Domestic Guarantor, shall, in each case be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, and (iii) any such Indebtedness shall be permitted under the definition of “Permitted Investments” (other than pursuant to clause (22) of the definition thereof);
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(9) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability, unemployment insurance, social security laws or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, self-insurance obligations, performance, bid, surety and similar bonds and completion Guarantees (not for borrowed money), in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(10) Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money) arising from agreements of the Company or a Subsidiary providing for indemnification, contribution, earn-out, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business or assets of the Company, any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Subsidiary or any other acquisition or disposition, in each case, permitted under the terms of this Indenture;
(11) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that such Indebtedness is (i) issued for cash, (ii) expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the Note Guarantees, and (iii) subject to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(12) the Incurrence by the Company or any Subsidiary of Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to refinance any Indebtedness Incurred as permitted under clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (20) and (21) and this clause (12) of this Section 4.09(b);
(13) Indebtedness arising from (a) the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business or (b) the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;
(14) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in respect of surety bonds (whether bid performance or otherwise) and performance and completion guarantees and other obligations of a like nature, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(15) Indebtedness incurred under leases of real property in respect of tenant improvements;
(16) obligations under any agreement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit cards, debit cards, p-cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, in-transit cash services, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting, trade finance services, supply chain finance services and other cash management services;
(17) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and otherwise in connection with deposit and checking accounts, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(18) Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums and (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(19) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding pursuant to this clause (19).
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(20) (A) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition so long as (i) such Indebtedness is not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) at the time such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence and any related financing transactions (calculated as of the last day of the Fiscal Month of the Company then most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 4.06), the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Subsidiaries does not exceed 1.50:1.00;
(21) Indebtedness consisting of Super Priority Notes in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the IP Advance Amount (together with any PIK Notes thereon issued thereafter in connection with a Borrowing Base Overage) issued following the Issue Date to any Holders; provided that (i) the proceeds thereof are used to repay the IP Advances and (ii) the issuance thereof has been consented to by Holders holding a majority of aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes;
(22) Indebtedness under Hedging Obligations that are Incurred in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Company or a Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities and not for speculative purposes; and
(23) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (22) above, Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (23) and then outstanding, will not exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness that is either secured or has a maturity date prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes, shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.
The Company will not Incur any Indebtedness under Section 4.09(b) if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to refinance any Subordinated Obligations of the Company unless such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the Notes to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Obligations. No Guarantor will Incur any Indebtedness under Section 4.09(b) if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to refinance any Guarantor Subordinated Obligations of such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee to at least the same extent as such Guarantor Subordinated Obligations. No Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor) may Incur any Indebtedness if such Indebtedness is used, directly or indirectly, to refinance Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness (other than another ABL Facility) or issue Capital Stock that is subordinated in right of payment to the ABL Facility or that is subordinated to the Liens securing the ABL Facility, unless such Indebtedness or Capital Stock is also subordinated to the Notes and the Liens securing the Notes, as applicable.
For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant:
(1) in the event that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(b), the Company, in its sole discretion, may classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of Incurrence and may later reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with Section 4.09(b) and will be entitled to divide the amount and type of such Indebtedness among more than one of such clauses under Section 4.09(b);
(2) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are Incurred pursuant to a Debt Facility and relate to other Indebtedness, then such letters of credit shall be treated as Incurred pursuant to such Debt Facility and such other Indebtedness shall not be included; and
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(3) except as provided in clause (2) of Section 4.09(b), Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included.
Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of debt discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness and the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant.
For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term 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-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Subsidiary may Incur pursuant to this covenant 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, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
For purposes of this Indenture, no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated or junior in right of payment to any other Indebtedness solely by virtue of (1) being unsecured or (2) its having a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.
Section 4.10. Limitation on Liens.
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets (including Capital Stock of Subsidiaries) now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, in each case, other than Permitted Liens.
Section 4.11. Future Guarantors.
(a) The Company will cause (i) each Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that, on the Issue Date or any time thereafter, becomes a borrower or Guarantees the Obligations under the 2026 Notes (other than Fossil (UK) Global Services Ltd.), the Second-Out Notes or the ABL Facility and (ii) each Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that, on the Issue Date or any time thereafter, Guarantees any other Indebtedness for borrowed money of (a) the Company or any Guarantor or (b) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary (and with respect to sub-clause (ii)(b), only to the extent such Indebtedness exceeds $2,500,000), to promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C, pursuant to which such Subsidiary will irrevocably and unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (including additional interest, if any) in respect of the Notes on a senior basis and all other Obligations under this Indenture, in each case, subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.
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(b) Each Subsidiary that becomes a Guarantor on or after the Issue Date will also become a party to the applicable Collateral Documents and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements and will as promptly as practicable execute and deliver such joinder documents, security instruments, and financing statements, and, with respect to any Material Real Property, Mortgages, opinions of counsel, surveys and title insurance policies as required under Section 11.06, under this Indenture and Collateral Documents to the extent, and substantially in the form, delivered on the Issue Date or, if later, on the date first delivered (but no greater scope) as may be necessary to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a perfected security interest with the priority described in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens and otherwise in the manner and to the extent set forth in the Collateral Documents and this Indenture and, subject to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, in the properties and assets of such new Guarantor constituting Collateral as security for the Notes or the Note Guarantees, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such properties and assets to the same extent and with the same force and effect.
(c) The obligations of each Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor (including, without limitation, any Guarantees of the ABL Facility or Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness) and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the Obligations of such other Guarantor under its Note Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution Obligations under this Indenture, result in the Obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a preference, fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law or any applicable foreign law.
(d) Each Note Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be released in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06.
Section 4.12. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions From Subsidiaries.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any Subsidiary (it being understood that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on Common Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock);
(2) make any loans or advances to the Company or any Subsidiary (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or
(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any Subsidiary (it being understood that such transfers shall not include any type of transfer described in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 4.12(a)).
(b) The provisions of Section 4.12(a) will not prohibit encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
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(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions pursuant to the ABL Facility, the Second-Out Notes Indenture, the Second-Out Notes, the 2026 Notes Indenture and the 2026 Notes, and documentation related thereto and other agreements or instruments in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date;
(2) this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents, and the Intercreditor Agreements;
(3) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired (including after-acquired property);
(4) any amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing of an agreement referred to in clauses (1), (2) or (3) of this Section 4.12(b) or this clause (4); provided, however, that such amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith determination of the Company, taken as a whole, no more restrictive with respect to encumbrances and restrictions of the nature described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of Section 4.12(a) contained in the agreements referred to in clauses (1), (2) or (3) of Section 4.12(b) on the Issue Date, or the date such Subsidiary became a Subsidiary or was merged into, or amalgamated or consolidated with, a Subsidiary, whichever is applicable;
(5) in the case of clause (3) of Section 4.12(a), Liens permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.10 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;
(6) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business, Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations permitted under this Indenture, in each case that impose encumbrances or restrictions of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 4.12(a) on the property so acquired;
(7) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or a portion of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;
(8) restrictions on cash, Cash Equivalents or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers, lessors or landlords or required by insurance, surety or bonding companies under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(9) any customary provisions in leases, subleases or licenses and other agreements entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
(10) restrictions on cash, Cash Equivalents or other deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, tenders, government contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety, stay, custom, performance and appeal bonds or other obligations of a like nature (including standby letters of credit or completion guarantees), in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(11) encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;
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(12) any customary provisions in partnership agreements, limited liability company agreements, joint venture agreements, other similar agreements and related governance documents entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(13) to the extent required by the minority shareholders thereof, any restriction with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary of which less than 90% of the Voting Stock is owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and
(14) other Indebtedness Incurred or Preferred Stock issued by a Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09 that, in the good faith determination of the Company, are not more restrictive with respect to encumbrances and restrictions of the nature described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of Section 4.12(a), taken as a whole, than those applicable to the Company in this Indenture, the Second-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Facility, or the 2026 Notes and the 2026 Notes Indenture on the Issue Date (which results in encumbrances or restrictions at a Subsidiary level comparable to those applicable to the Company).
Section 4.13. [Reserved].
Section 4.14. Transactions with Affiliates.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to sell, lease, license or otherwise transfer any assets to, or purchase, lease, license or otherwise acquire any assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates (an “Affiliate Transaction”), except:
(1) transactions in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that would prevail in an arm’s-length transaction with unrelated third parties; provided that, (x) a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors (or disinterested members of any similar governing body) of the Company shall have adopted a resolution or otherwise authorized an action to approve any transaction permitted under this clause (1) that is in excess of $5,000,000 and (y) an independent fairness opinion shall have been issued by a reputable investment bank or other third party selected by the Company in good faith affirming the fairness of any transaction permitted under this clause (1) that is in excess of $25,000,000;
(2) transactions between or among the Company and the Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate; and
(3) any Permitted Investment or any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 4.08; and
(4) the payment of reasonable fees and compensation to, and the providing of reasonable indemnities on behalf of, directors and officers of the Company or any Subsidiary, as determined by the board of directors of the Company in good faith.
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.
(a) If a Change of Control occurs, the Company will make an offer to purchase all of the Notes (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a purchase price in cash equal to 107.500% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase (the “Change of ControlPayment”), subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive any interest due on the Change of Control Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the
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Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes as described under Section 3.07, the Company will mail a notice of such Change of Control Offer to each Holder or otherwise send notice in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, with a copy to the Trustee, stating:
(1) that a Change of Control Offer is being made, the expiration time for such Change of Control Offer (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC) and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for purchase by the Company at a purchase price in cash equal to 107.500% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the applicable record date to receive interest due on the Change of Control Payment Date);
(2) the purchase date (which shall be no later than three Business Days after the date such Change of Control Offer expires) (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);
(3) if such notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control and setting forth a brief description of the definitive agreement for the Change of Control; and
(4) the procedures determined by the Company, consistent with this Indenture, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes repurchased.
The notice, if mailed or otherwise delivered in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. If (A) the notice is mailed or otherwise delivered in a manner herein provided and (B) any Holder fails to receive such notice or a Holder receives such notice but it is defective, such Holder’s failure to receive such notice or such defect shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of the Notes as to all other Holders that properly received such notice without defect.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes (in integral multiples of $1.00) validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, provided that if, following repurchase of a portion of a Note, the remaining principal amount of such Note outstanding immediately after such repurchase would be less than $1.00, then the portion of such Note so repurchased shall be reduced so that the remaining principal amount of such Note outstanding immediately after such repurchase is $1.00;
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount sufficient to make the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes so validly tendered and not validly withdrawn; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.
(c) The applicable Paying Agent will promptly mail (or otherwise send in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC) to each Holder so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a company order, will promptly authenticate and mail (or otherwise send
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in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC) (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel will be required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or send such new Note) equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $1.00 or integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof.
(d) If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Change of Control Payment Date will be paid on the Change of Control Payment Date to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date. Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof purchased on the Change of Control Payment Date.
(e) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) 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 a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (2) the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes in accordance with Section 3.07. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time such Change of Control Offer is made.
(f) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of the conflict.
(g) If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not validly withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company pursuant to Section 4.15(e), purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by such Holders, the Company or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to such Change of Control Offer, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to 107.500% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
(h) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.15, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.15 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06.
Section 4.16. Asset Dispositions.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, cause or make any Asset Disposition unless:
(1) the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at least equal to the Fair Market Value (such Fair Market Value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition) of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition;
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(2) 75% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition received by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (and with respect to any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Subsidiary from the transferee that are Cash Equivalents, only to the extent such instruments are converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Disposition); and
(3) to the extent that any consideration received by the Company or any Subsidiary in such Asset Disposition constitutes securities or other assets that are of a type or class that constitutes Collateral, such securities or other assets are added to the Collateral securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable, in the manner and to the extent required by this Indenture or any of the Collateral Documents with the Lien on such Collateral securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable, being of the same priority with respect to the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable, as the Lien on the assets disposed of in the Asset Disposition.
(b) Any Net Available Cash from any transaction or series of related transactions constituting an Asset Disposition of Notes Priority Collateral shall constitute “Asset Disposition Proceeds”. Following the date the Company or any of its Subsidiaries receives Asset Disposition Proceeds (such date, the “Proceeds Trigger Date”), an amount equal to 100% of such Asset Disposition Proceeds shall be applied by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, as follows: (i) up to $5,000,000 during the term of the Notes may be applied by the Company or such Subsidiary to maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade, or repair assets, or replace disposed-of-assets (in each case, other than current assets) used or useful in such entity’s business or to replace assets sold in such Asset Disposition; provided that, to the extent that any newly acquired assets are of a type or class that constitutes Collateral, such securities or other assets are added to the Collateral securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable, in the manner and to the extent required by this Indenture or any of the Collateral Documents with the Lien on such Collateral securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable, being of the same priority with respect to the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable, as the Lien on the assets disposed of in the Asset Disposition, and (ii) to make an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Disposition Offer) to all Holders to purchase their Notes at 107.500% of the principal amount thereof, plus the amount of accrued but unpaid interest on the Notes that are purchased.
(c) Any Asset Disposition Proceeds that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” On the 181st day after a Proceeds Trigger Date (or, if earlier, the date upon which the Company determines not to invest such Asset Disposition Proceeds in accordance with clause (i) of the preceding clause (b)), the Company will be required to make an offer (an “Asset Disposition Offer”) to all Holders to purchase the maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be purchased using the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash equal to 107.500% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive interest due on the Asset Disposition Purchase Date (as defined below)), in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture in integral multiples of $1.00. The Company shall commence an Asset Disposition Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds by mailing (or otherwise communicating in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC) the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee.
(d) To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds to reduce any Indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes, subject to other covenants contained in this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Company, subject to the applicable procedures of DTC, shall select the Notes to be purchased
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on a pro rata basis (subject to adjustment to maintain the authorized denominations for the Notes) on the basis of the aggregate accreted value or principal amount of tendered Notes. Upon completion of such Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
Section 4.17. [Reserved].
Section 4.18. Deposit Accounts.
Each Note Party shall within 30 days (or in the case of Deposit Accounts in Germany and Switzerland, the time period set forth in the German Security Agreements and Swiss Security Agreements, respectively) after the Issue Date or, if opened following the Issue Date, within 30 days (or in the case of Deposit Accounts in Germany and Switzerland, the time period set forth in the German Security Agreements and Swiss Security Agreements, respectively), of the opening of such Deposit Account (other than an Excluded Account) or the date any Person that owns such Deposit Account becomes a Note Party hereunder, execute and deliver, and cause each relevant depository institution to execute and deliver, to the Notes Collateral Agent a Control Agreement or other control arrangement satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent for each Deposit Account (other than any Excluded Account) of such Note Party.
Section 4.19. [Reserved].
Section 4.20. Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.
(a) The Company, each Note Party and each Subsidiary of the Company not constituting an Excluded Subsidiary shall have satisfied the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement by or on the Issue Date; provided that to the extent that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (other than the execution of the Collateral Documents, delivery of Uniform Commercial Code or PPSA financing statements with respect to perfection of security interests in all assets of the Note Parties that may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction, delivery of intellectual property security agreements in form for filing with the USPTO, USCO and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the delivery of possessory collateral) cannot be satisfied by or on the Issue Date and are not satisfied as of the Issue Date after the Company has used commercially reasonable efforts to do so, such unsatisfied requirements shall be required to be satisfied as promptly as practicable after the Issue Date and in any event within the period specified therefor in Appendix B.
(b) The Company shall have delivered to the Notes Collateral Agent on the Issue Date, (i) a completed Perfection Certificate dated as of the Issue Date and signed by an Officer of each of the Company and each Note Party, together with all attachments contemplated thereby and (ii) results of (x) searches of the Uniform Commercial Code filings (or equivalent filings, including PPSA filings) and (y) bankruptcy, judgment, tax and intellectual property lien searches requested by the Trustee, together with (in the case of clause (x)) copies of the financing statements (or similar documents) disclosed by such search and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that the Liens indicated by such financing statements (or other documents) are permitted by hereunder or have been or will be released in connection with the issuance of the Notes on the Issue Date.
(c) Subject to clauses (a) and (b) above, each document (including any UCC, PPSA (or similar) financing statement and intellectual property security agreements required by any Collateral Document or under applicable requirements of law to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral required to be delivered pursuant to such Collateral Document (unless such Collateral Document provides for any such requirement to be provided at a later point in time), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation and the Trustee have made arrangements for such filing, registration or recordation.
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ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.
(a) The Company will not consolidate with or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:
(1) (a) the Company is the surviving Person or (b) if the Company is not the surviving Person, then the surviving Person formed by such consolidation or merger to the Person to which such assets are so sold, assigned, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and any such other surviving Person shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture expressly assuming the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture;
(2) to the extent any assets of the Person who is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Company are assets of the type that would constitute Collateral under the Collateral Documents, the Company will take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the applicable Collateral Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Collateral Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the applicable Collateral Documents;
(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Subsidiaries does not exceed 1.00:1.00;
(5) each Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (1) of Section 5.01(b) shall apply) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Note Guarantee shall apply to the surviving Peron’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements; and
(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation, winding-up or disposition, and such supplemental indenture and any other supplemental agreements comply with this Indenture.
(b) Notwithstanding clause (4) of Section 5.01(a), to the extent that the Company is the surviving Person:
(1) the Company may consolidate with, merge with or into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to any Subsidiary, and any Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge with or into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, so long as no Capital Stock of the Subsidiary is distributed to any Person other than the Company; provided that, in the case of
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a Subsidiary that merges into the Company, the Company will not be required to comply with Section 5.01(a)(6); and
(2) the Company may merge with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating or forming the Company in another state of the United States or the District of Columbia, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.
(c) The Company shall not permit any Guarantor to consolidate with, amalgamate with or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person (other than to the Company or another Guarantor) unless:
(1) (A) if such entity remains a Guarantor, the resulting, surviving, continuing or transferee Person (if not such Guarantor) shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture hereto and the applicable Collateral Documents in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, all the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee;
(B) to the extent any assets of the Person who is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the successor Guarantor are assets of the type that would constitute Collateral under the Collateral Documents, the successor Guarantor will take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the applicable Collateral Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Collateral Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the applicable Collateral Documents;
(C) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(D) the Company will have delivered to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation, winding-up or disposition and such supplemental indenture and any other supplemental agreements comply with this Indenture; or
(2) in the event the transaction results in the release of the Guarantor’s Note Guarantee under clause (1)(A) of Section 10.06(a), the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.16 (it being understood that only such portion of the Net Available Cash as is required to be applied on the date of such transaction in accordance with the terms of this Indenture needs to be applied in accordance therewith at such time).
(d) For purposes of this Section 5.01, the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, which properties and assets, if held by the Company or such Guarantor instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company or such Guarantor on a consolidated basis, will be deemed to be the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable.
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ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default.
(a) Each of the following is an “Event of Default”:
(1) default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days;
(2) default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, on any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon mandatory or optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;
(3) [reserved];
(4) failure by the Company or any Guarantor to comply for 30 days after notice as provided below with any of their obligations under Article 4 (in each case, other than (A) a failure to purchase Notes, which constitutes an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a)(2), or (B) a failure to comply with Section 4.06 which constitutes an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a)(5));
(5) failure by the Company or any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after notice as provided below with its other agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes;
(6) (i) event of default under the ABL Credit Agreement, except that, other than with respect to a payment event of default or bankruptcy or insolvency events of default under the ABL Credit Agreement, so long as the obligations under the ABL Credit Agreement have not been accelerated, the Company shall be permitted (x) to the extent there are any IAI Investors, (I) to the extent that such event of default is not subject to a grace period or a grace period of less than or equal to 15 days under the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the closing date thereof), a grace period to cure such event of default under the ABL Credit Agreement equal to (A) in the event that the underlying event of default under the ABL Credit Agreement is not subject to a grace period under the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof)), 15 days and (B) in the event that the underlying event of event of default under the ABL Credit Agreement is subject to a grace period of less than 15 days under the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof)), 15 days less the applicable grace period in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof)) and (II) to the extent that such event of default is subject to a grace period of greater than 15 days under the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof)), no grace period, which resulting Event of Default under this Indenture, in each case under this clause (x), may be waived at the sole discretion of IAI Investor(s) holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding held by IAI Investor(s), and (y) otherwise, a grace period to cure such event of default under the ABL Credit Agreement of 30 days; and
(ii) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists or is created after the Issue Date, which default:
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(A) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, at the final maturity of such Indebtedness; or
(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its maturity;
and, in each case of this clause (6)(ii), the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10,000,000 or more;
(7) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $15,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment and has not denied coverage) shall be rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary, or any combination thereof, and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
(8) (i) the Company or a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries (excluding any Immaterial Subsidiaries) that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Laws:
(A) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;
(B) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking an arrangement of debt, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Laws; provided that any of the foregoing actions shall not constitute a Default if this would constitute a breach of section 44 of the German Act on the Stabilisation and Restructuring Framework for Business (StaRUG);
(C) consents to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, assignee, trustee, monitor sequestrator, administrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;
(ii) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Laws that:
(A) is for relief against the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, in a proceeding in which the Company, any such Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;
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(B) appoints a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, assignee, trustee, monitor, sequestrator, administrator or other similar official of the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or
(C) orders the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;
(9) any Note Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms of this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or its Note Guarantee;
(10) with respect to any Collateral having a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million, individually or in the aggregate, (A) the security interest under the Collateral Documents, at any time, ceases to be a valid and perfected Lien (perfected as or having the priority required by the Collateral Documents and this Indenture) and in full force and effect for any reason other than in accordance with their terms and the terms of this Indenture and such failure continues for 60 days and other than the satisfaction in full of all obligations under this Indenture and discharge of this Indenture, except to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the limitations of foreign laws, rules and regulations or the application thereof, or from the failure of the Notes Collateral Agent (or the applicable controlling collateral agent pursuant to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement) to maintain possession of certificates or instruments actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents or (B) the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary asserts, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable and such Person fails to rescind such assertion within 60 days; or
(11) any Intercreditor Agreement is not or ceases to be binding on or enforceable against any party thereto (or against any Person on whose behalf any such party makes any covenant or agreements therein), or shall otherwise not be effective to create the rights and obligations purported to be created thereunder, in each case in any respect material to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or the Holders.
However, a Default under clauses (4) and (5) of this Section 6.01(a) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
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notify the Company of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in clauses (4) and (5) of this Section 6.01(a) after receipt of such notice.
(b) In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default described in clause (6) of Section 6.01(a) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if:
(1) the default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to clause (6) of Section 6.01(a) shall be remedied or cured by the Company or a Subsidiary or waived by the holders of the relevant Indebtedness within 20 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto; and
(2) (A) the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (B) all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.
Section 6.02. Acceleration.
(a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (8) of Section 6.01(a)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company, specifying the Event of Default, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes, together with the Applicable Premium, to be due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, together with the Applicable Premium, will be due and payable immediately.
(b) If an Event of Default under clause (8) of Section 6.01(a) occurs and is continuing, the principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, together with the Applicable Premium, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.
(c) The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may waive all past defaults (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, premium or interest) and rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if (1) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.
(d) WITHOUTLIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, IN THE EVENT THE NOTES ARE ACCELERATED OR OTHERWISE BECOME DUE AND PAYABLE PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2029 AS A RESULT OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT, THE APPLICABLE PREMIUM WILL ALSO BEDUE AND PAYABLE AND SHALL CONSTITUTE PART OF THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE NOTES, 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 EACHHOLDER ’ S LOST PROFITS AS A RESULT THEREOF. ANY PREMIUM (INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE PREMIUM) PAYABLE ABOVE SHALL BE THE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY EACH HOLDER AS THE RESULT OF THE EARLY REDEMPTION AND THE COMPANY AGREES THAT ITIS REASONABLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES CURRENTLY EXISTING. THE PREMIUM (INCLUDING THE APPLICABLE PREMIUM) SHALL ALSO BE PAYABLE IN THE EVENT THE NOTES (AND/OR THIS INDENTURE) ARE
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SATISFIED OR RELEASED BY FORECLOSURE, WHETHER BY POWER OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDING, DEED IN LIEU OF FORECLOSURE, EXERCISE OF REMEDIES AND/OR SALE OF COLLATERAL FOLLOWING EVENTS OF DEFAULT OR ANY SALEOF COLLATERAL IN AN INSOLVENCY PROCEEDING, ANY RESTRUCTURING, REORGANIZATION OR COMPROMISE OF THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE NOTES OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS INDENTURE OR ANY OTHER TERMINATION OF THIS INDENTURE OR NOTES AS A RESULT OF ANY SUCHEVENTS.
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 or this Indenture.
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 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.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.02 of this Indenture or any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes, the sole remedy with respect to an Event of Default due to the Company’s failure to comply with the requirements under Section 4.01 of this Indenture, for the first 180 calendar days after the occurrence of such Event of Default, consists exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Notes at an annual rate equal to (1) 0.25% for the first 90 calendar days after such Event of Default and (2) 0.50% for calendar days 91 through 180 after such Event of Default. On the 181st day after such Event of Default, if such violation is not cured or waived, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes may declare the principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes to be due and payable immediately. If the Company elects to pay such additional interest, it shall notify the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes by certificate of the Company’s election at any time on or before the close of business on the first Business Day following the Event of Default. No additional interest shall be due or payable due to the occurrence of an Event of Default other than with respect to such failure to comply with reporting requirements.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all Holders waive any existing Default and its consequences hereunder, except:
(1) a continuing Default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note held by a non-consenting Holder (including in connection with an Asset Disposition Offer or a Change of Control Offer); and
(2) a Default with respect to a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected,
provided that, subject to Section 6.02, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
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Section 6.05. Control by Majority.
Subject to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent. However, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law, this Indenture, the Notes, any Note Guarantee, the Collateral Documents and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, or that the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent determines in good faith is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee has no obligation to make such determination) or that would, in its or its counsel’s opinion, lead the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to expend its own funds or expose it to liability (financial or otherwise). For the avoidance of doubt, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of Holders until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in this Indenture and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability which it may incur in complying with those instructions.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
Subject to Section 6.07, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes (subject to the Intercreditor Agreements) unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;
(2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holders have offered, and if requested provided, the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company and any other
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obligor on the Notes for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes, together with 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, the Notes Collateral Agent and their agents and counsel.
Section 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.
Section 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.08, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy are, to the extent permitted by law, cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article 6 or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.12. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee may file proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, their agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes, including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and is entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other securities or property payable or deliverable on any such claims. Any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent under Section 7.07 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
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distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders 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 any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.13. Priorities.
Subject to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements with respect to any proceeds of Collateral, if the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, pursuant to the foreclosure or other remedial provisions contained in the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or any money or other property distributable in respect of any Guarantor’s Guaranteed Obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default, it shall pay out the money and property in the following order:
(1) to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07, including payment of all compensation, reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and to the Notes Collateral Agent for the costs and expenses incurred under the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements;
(2) to Holders of Super Priority Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Super Priority 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 Super Priority Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively;
(3) to Holders of Notes other than Super Priority Notes for amounts due and unpaid on such Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and
(4) to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.13. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this Section 6.13, the Trustee shall cause notice of such record date and payment date to be given to the Company and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.02.
Section 6.14. 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 such 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 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.
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ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent.
(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 its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) With respect to the Trustee, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, and at all times with respect to the Notes Collateral Agent:
(1) the duties of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture or other Note Documents against the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent 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 the Notes Collateral Agent and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof or the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, as applicable (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent may be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;
(2) neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall 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; and
(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability (financial or otherwise) in the performance of any of its duties hereunder and the Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in their opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may be contrary
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to any Note Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Bankruptcy Laws.
(d) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any acts or omissions, except for such losses, damages or expenses which have been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have directly resulted from the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as the case may be.
(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, as applicable, that in any way relates to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 7.01.
(f) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall (i) have any duty to take any discretionary action or to exercise any discretionary power, or (ii) be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered, and if requested provided, to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent (as applicable) against any loss, liability or expense (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the applicable Note Document and which may include payment in advance).
(g) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent.
(a) Each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may conclusively rely upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties, not only as to due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent need investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall determine in good faith to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(b) Before the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may (but is not obliged to) require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both subject to the other provisions of this Indenture. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may consult with counsel or other professionals retained or consulted of its selection and the advice of such counsel, professional 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.
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(c) Each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the acts or omissions of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.
(d) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or a Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or such Guarantor.
(f) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, and such notice references the existence of a Default or Event of Default, the Notes and this Indenture.
(g) In no event shall the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent 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 or the Notes Collateral Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in each of its capacities hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, and by, the Agents and each other agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder or thereunder.
(i) [Reserved].
(j) The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(k) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
(l) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent:
(1) shall be accountable for the use or application by any Person of disbursements properly made by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or the Collateral Documents or of moneys received from the Company or the Guarantors; or
(2) shall 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
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military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services.
(m) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be responsible for any unsuitability, inadequacy, expiration or unfitness of any security interest created hereunder or pursuant to any other Collateral Document pertaining to this matter nor shall it be obligated to make any investigation into, and shall be entitled to assume, the adequacy and fitness of any security interest created hereunder or pursuant to any other Collateral Document. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any obligation to give, execute, deliver, file, record, authorize or obtain any financing statements, notices, instruments, documents, agreements, consents or other papers as shall be necessary to (i) create, preserve, perfect or validate the security interest granted to the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents or (ii) enable the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights under the Collateral Documents with respect to such pledge and security interest. In addition, neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any responsibility or liability (i) in connection with the acts or omissions of the Company or any Guarantor in respect of the foregoing or (ii) for or with respect to the legality, validity and enforceability of any security interest created in the Collateral or the perfection and priority of such security interest.
(n) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, the Notes Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against any prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not 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. The Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords similar collateral and shall not 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.
(o) The permissive rights of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to do things enumerated in this Note Documents shall not be construed as a duty and, with respect to such permissive rights, neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be answerable for other than its gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(p) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any liability for any action taken, or errors in judgment made, in good faith by it or any of its officers, employees or agents, unless it shall have been negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent.
The Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
However, in the event that the Trustee acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b) it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties or resign. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 and Section 7.11.
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Section 7.04. Disclaimer.
Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, 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 on the Notes.
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.
If a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the Trustee is informed of such occurrence by the Company, the Trustee will mail or deliver by electronic transmission to each Holder a notice of the Default within 90 days after obtaining such knowledge or being notified by the Company. Except in the case of an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.01(a), the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if the Trustee determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.
(a) Within 60 days after each April 15, beginning with April 15, 2026 and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).
(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing in the event the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange or delisted therefrom.
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.
(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. Neither the Trustee’s nor the Notes Collateral Agent’s compensation shall be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee and the Notes 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 the Notes Collateral Agent’s agents and respective counsel. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall provide the Company reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary course of business.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify each of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and any predecessor Notes Collateral Agent and their directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) for, and hold the Indemnified Parties harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including
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reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent)) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (including the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements against the Company or any Guarantor, court costs and any sworn translation costs and together with any applicable VAT)) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). Each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent through the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
(d) To secure the payment obligations of the Company and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
(e) When the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(8) 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 Laws.
(f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.
Section 7.08. Appointment of the Notes Collateral Agent.
(a) Each Holder, by accepting and holding a Note (including by accepting a Note following transfer from another Holder), shall be deemed to have consented and agreed to the terms of the Collateral Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of the Collateral and authorizing the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into any Collateral Document on its behalf) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the Collateral Documents and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.
(b) In respect of the Dutch Security Agreements and the Collateral governed by Dutch law, the Notes Collateral Agent shall act in its own name and as creditor in its own right under the Parallel Debt as referred to in Section 13.20 of this Indenture for the benefit of the Trustee (acting for the benefit of the Holders).
(c) The Notes Collateral Agent shall act in accordance with the powers given to it by law and by the Non-ABL Agreements.
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(d) The Notes Collateral Agent hereby accepts the appointments under Sections 7.08(b) and (c).
(e) The Notes Collateral Agent shall solely act in its capacity as Notes Collateral Agent or for itself (as secured party).
(f) Any change of Notes Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to this Section 7.08 shall be made in accordance with Section 7.08.
(g) The Trustee (acting on behalf and for the benefit of the Holders):
(1) [reserved]
(2) irrevocably authorises, empowers and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to perform the duties and exercise the rights, powers and discretions that are specifically entrusted to it under the Notes Documents, together with any other rights, powers and discretions which are incidental thereto; and
(3) acknowledges and confirms that the Notes Collateral Agent is entitled to take any step to protect the interests of the Secured Parties; however, the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make the filing of any proof of claim for the benefit of the Trustee (acting on behalf and for the benefit of the Holders), unless otherwise agreed between the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee.
(h) Without limiting the limiting the generality of the foregoing, by its acceptance of any Notes, each Holder irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent:
(i) in relation to the Collateral being subject to the German Security Agreements, to (A) hold, administer and realise such Collateral that is transferred or assigned by way of security (Sicherungseigentum/Sicherungsabtretung) or otherwise granted to it and is creating or evidencing a non-accessory security right (nicht akzessorische Sicherheit) in its own name as trustee (Treuhänder) for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders; and (B) hold (with regard to its own rights under the Parallel Debt), administer, and realise any such Collateral that is pledged (verpfändet) or otherwise transferred to the Notes Collateral Agent and is creating or evidencing an accessory security right (akzessorische Sicherheit) as agent in the name of and for and on the behalf of the Trustee and the Holders, and in its own name on the basis of the Parallel Debt in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement;
(ii) to: (A) accept as its representative (Stellvertreter) any pledge or other creation of any accessory security right granted in favor of the Trustee and/or such Holder in connection with the German Security Agreements and to agree to and execute on its behalf as its representative (Stellvertreter) any amendments and/or alterations to any German Security Agreements or any other agreement related to such Collateral which creates a pledge or any other accessory security right (akzessorische Sicherheit) including the release or confirmation of release of such security; (B) execute on behalf of itself and the Trustee and the Holders where relevant and without the need for any further referral to, or authority from, the Trustee and the Holders or any other person all necessary releases of any such Collateral being subject to the German Security Agreements or any other agreement related to such Collateral; (C) realize such Collateral in accordance with the German Security Agreements or any other agreement securing such Collateral; (D) make, receive all declarations and statements and undertake all other necessary actions and measures which are necessary or desirable in connection with such Collateral or the German Security Agreements or
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any other agreement securing the Collateral; (E) take such action on its behalf as may from time to time be authorized under or in accordance with the German Security Agreements; and (F) exercise such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are specifically delegated to or conferred upon the Trustee and the Holders under the German Security Agreements together with such powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement;
(iii) to act as its agent (Stellvertreter), and, to the extent possible, releases the Notes Collateral Agent from any restrictions on representing several persons and self-dealing under any applicable law, and in particular from the restrictions of Section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch). The Notes Collateral Agent has the power to grant sub-power of attorney, including the release from the restrictions of section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch).
(i) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by its acceptance of any Notes, each Holder irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent:
(i) in relation to each of the Swiss Security Agreements pursuant to which Liens of a non-accessory (akzessorische) nature is granted (each a “Swiss Non-Accessory Security Agreements”), to hold and administer and, as the case may be, release and realize any such Lien (including any and all benefits in connection with any Swiss Non-Accessory Security Agreements and any and all proceeds of such Lien) on a fiduciary basis (treuhänderisch) for itself (including as joint-credit) and for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement; and
(ii) in relation to each of the Swiss Security Agreements pursuant to which Liens of an accessory (akzessorische) nature is granted (each a “Swiss Accessory Security Agreements”), to hold and administer and, as the case may be, release and realize any such Lien (including any and all benefits in connection with any Swiss Accessory Security Agreements and any and all proceeds of such Lien) for itself (including as joint-creditor) and as direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) in the name and on behalf of each of the Trustee and the Holders and each of the Trustee and the Holders authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent to act as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) in relation to any and all matters in connection with such Swiss Accessory Security Agreements in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.
The Notes Collateral Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers under this paragraph (i) by or through any one or more co-agents, sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact (including the ABL Collateral Agent), and each Holder hereby irrevocably authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent to appoint any such co-agent, sub-agent or attorney-in-fact (including the ABL Collateral Agent) for such purposes and confirms that the authority, rights, powers and protections afforded to the Notes Collateral Agent under this paragraph (i) shall apply equally to any such co-agent, sub-agent or attorney-in-fact (including the ABL Collateral Agent) so appointed.
Section 7.09. Replacement of Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent.
(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or a successor Notes Collateral Agent shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s or successor Notes Collateral Agent’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may resign in writing at any time by giving 30 days’ prior notice of such resignation to the Company and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
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may remove the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent by so notifying the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent if:
(1) in the case of the Trustee, the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.11;
(2) the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Laws;
(3) a receiver or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, or its property; or
(4) the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent becomes incapable of acting as Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent, respectively, hereunder.
(b) If the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or a successor Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be. Within one year after the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the successor Trustee or the successor Notes Collateral Agent to replace it with another successor Trustee or another successor Notes Collateral Agent appointed by the Company.
(c) If a successor Trustee or a successor Notes Collateral Agent does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent (at the Company’s expense), the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be.
(d) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(e) A successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent shall become effective, and the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent to the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent; provided that all sums owing to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder have been paid and such transfer shall be subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 7.09, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent.
(f) As used in this Section 7.09, the term “Trustee” shall also include each Agent.
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Section 7.10. Successor by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another entity or national banking association, the successor entity or national banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent.
Section 7.11. Eligibility; Disqualification.
(a) There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
(b) This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b).
Section 7.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.
The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
Section 7.13. Collateral Documents; Intercreditor Agreements.
By their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders hereby authorize and direct the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to execute and deliver each of the Collateral Documents and each Intercreditor Agreement (including joinder agreements thereto) and any other Collateral Documents in which the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, is named as a party, including any Intercreditor Agreement or Collateral Documents executed on or after the Issue Date and any amendments, joinders or supplements to any Intercreditor Agreement or Collateral Document permitted by this Indenture. It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that, in so doing, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent are not responsible for the terms or contents of such agreements, or for the validity or enforceability thereof, or the sufficiency thereof for any purpose. Whether or not so expressly stated therein, in entering into, or taking (or forbearing from) any action under the Intercreditor Agreements or any other Collateral Documents, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent each shall have all of the rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under this Indenture (in addition to those that may be granted to it under the terms of such other agreement or agreements).
ARTICLE 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 applied to all outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
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Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
(a) Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to this Indenture, all outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company 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 8.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture, including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(1) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal, premium, if any, Applicable Premium, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due, solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04;
(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for Note payments held in trust;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(4) this Section 8.02.
(b) Following the Company’s exercise of its Legal Defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
(c) If the Company exercises its Legal Defeasance option under this Section 8.02, the Liens on the Collateral will be released and the Note Guarantees in effect at such time will be automatically released.
(d) Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its Legal Defeasance option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its Covenant Defeasance option under Section 8.03.
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.
(a) Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be released from their respective obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 3.10, 4.03, 4.05, 4.06, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 and 4.20 and 5.01(a)(4) with respect to the outstanding Notes, and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Note Guarantees, on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (“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 accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to this Indenture and the outstanding Notes,
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the Company 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, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture, and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(3) that resulted solely from the failure of the Company to comply with Section 5.01(a)(4), Section 6.01(a)(4) (only with respect to covenants that are released as a result of such Covenant Defeasance), Section 6.01(a)(5) (only with respect to covenants that are released as a result of such Covenant Defeasance), 6.01(a)(6), 6.01(a)(7), 6.01(a)(8) (solely with respect to Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), 6.01(a)(9) and 6.01(a)(10), in each case, shall not constitute an Event of Default.
(b) If the Company exercises its Covenant Defeasance option under this Section 8.03, the Liens on the Collateral will be released and the Note Guarantees in effect at such time will be automatically released.
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
(a) The following shall be the conditions to the exercise of either the Legal Defeasance option under Section 8.02 or the Covenant Defeasance option under Section 8.03 with respect to the Notes:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay the principal, premium, if any, Applicable Premium, and interest, if any, due on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,
(A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or
(B) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, the Holders and beneficial owners of Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders and beneficial owners of 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
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the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the ABL Facility, the 2026 Notes Indenture, the Second-Out Notes Indenture or any other material agreement or material instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(5) [reserved];
(6) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with; and
(7) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be (which instructions may be contained in the Officer’s Certificate referred to in clause (6) above).
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) Subject to Section 8.06, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(b) The Company will 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 8.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders.
(c) Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a)), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.06. Repayment to the Company.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or
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interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee 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 Company cause to be published once, in The New York Times or 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 shall be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, 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 Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, as the case may be; provided that, if the Company makes any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders 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.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 9.02, without the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Guarantors (except that no existing Guarantor will be required to execute any amendment or supplement of this Indenture that solely relates to changes described in Section 9.01(a)(5)), the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may amend this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements) to:
(1) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
(2) provide for the assumption by a successor entity of the obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance with Section 5.01;
(3) provide for or facilitate the issuance of uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;
(4) comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary;
(5) add Guarantors with respect to the Notes or release a Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, in each case, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;
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(6) secure the Notes and the Note Guarantees;
(7) to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Lien securing the Notes or the Note Guarantees in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or Intercreditor Agreements;
(8) add covenants of the Company and its Subsidiaries or Events of Default for the benefit of Holders or to make changes that would provide additional rights to the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor;
(9) make any change that does not materially adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements of any Holder;
(10) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with any required qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(11) evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment of a successor Trustee (provided that the successor Trustee is otherwise qualified and eligible to act as such under the terms of this Indenture) or successor notes collateral agent;
(12) conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements to any provision of the “Description of the First-Out Notes” section of the Registration Statement to the extent that such provision in such “Description of the First-Out Notes” section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, as confirmed in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee;
(13) make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes or, if Incurred in compliance with this Indenture, Additional Notes; provided, however, that (A) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (B) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;
(14) to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or
(15) to add Collateral with respect to any or all of the Notes and/or the Note Guarantees.
(b) The Holders of the Notes will be deemed to have consented for purposes of the Collateral Documents and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements to any of the following amendments, waivers and other modifications to the Collateral Documents and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements:
(1) (A) to add other parties (or any authorized agent thereof or trustee therefor) holding Secured Indebtedness that is Incurred in compliance with the ABL Facility, this Indenture, the Second-Out Notes Indenture, and the Collateral Documents and (B) to establish the priority of the Liens on any Collateral securing such Secured Indebtedness under the applicable Intercreditor Agreement with the Liens on such Collateral securing the Obligations under the ABL Facility, this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees, and (C) to establish that the Liens on any ABL
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Priority Collateral securing any Indebtedness replacing the ABL Facility permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture shall be senior to the Liens on such ABL Priority Collateral securing any Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees, and that the Liens on any Notes Priority Collateral securing any such Indebtedness shall be junior to the Liens on such Non- ABL Priority Collateral securing any Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees, all on the terms provided for in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement in effect immediately prior to such amendment or other modification; and all proceeds of the Collateral shall be payable to the Notes Collateral Agent and such representatives for any other Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness then outstanding on a pro rata basis based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and under any other Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness then outstanding, all on the terms provided for in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement in effect immediately prior to such amendment;
(2) to effectuate the release of assets included in the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes in accordance with this Indenture or the Collateral Documents if those assets are (A) owned by a Guarantor and that Guarantor is released from its Note Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or (B) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted or not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;
(3) to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing any Indebtedness refinancing any Secured Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 shall rank pari passu with the Liens on such Collateral securing the Obligations under such replaced Secured Indebtedness and otherwise conform to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(4) upon any cancellation or termination of the ABL Facility without a replacement thereof, to establish that the ABL Priority Collateral (in addition to the Notes Priority Collateral) shall secure the Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees on the same basis as the Notes Priority Collateral pursuant to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, subject to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements in effect immediately prior to such amendment or other modification;
(5) (i) to add any junior lien secured parties, and the Notes Collateral Agent as senior lien secured party, to any junior lien Intercreditor Agreement and/or (ii) to add any second lien secured parties to any second lien Intercreditor Agreement;
(6) in the case of any Collateral Document, to include therein any legend required to be set forth therein pursuant to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, or to modify any such legend as required by such Intercreditor Agreement;
(7) with respect to the Intercreditor Agreements then in effect or the Collateral Documents, as provided in the relevant Intercreditor Agreement or Collateral Document, as applicable;
(8) to add Collateral with respect to any or all of the Notes and/or the Notes Guarantees; and
(9) to provide for the succession of any parties to the Collateral Documents, or any applicable Intercreditor Agreement (and any amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature that do not adversely affect the rights of the Holders in any material way), in connection with an amendment, renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing, restructuring, replacement,
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supplementing or other modification from time to time of the definitive documentation governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture or any other agreement that is permitted by this Indenture.
(c) Upon the request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 13.04, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders.
(a) Except as provided in Section 9.01 and this Section 9.02 (and subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements), the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) and, subject to Section 6.04 and Section 6.07, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with the purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes). Section 2.09 and Section 2.10 shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.
(b) Upon the request of the Company, and upon delivery to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of the documents described in Section 7.02 and Section 13.04, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may in their discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.
(c) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver. It shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
(d) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will send to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, supplement or waiver. However, any failure of the Company to send such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.
(e) Without the consent of each affected Holder, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
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(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the stated rate of interest or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Note;
(3) reduce the principal of or Applicable Premium due on, or extend the Stated Maturity of, any Note;
(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, Applicable 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 with respect to a nonpayment default and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(5) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any Note or change the date on which any Note may be redeemed or repurchased as described in Section 3.07, Section 4.15 and Section 4.16 whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise (except amendments to the definitions of “Asset Disposition” and “Change of Control”);
(6) make any Note payable in a currency other than that stated in the Note;
(7) amend the contractual right expressly set forth in this Indenture or the Notes of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;
(8) make any change in the amendment or waiver provisions which require each Holder’s consent;
(9) modify the Note Guarantees in any manner materially adverse to the Holders; or
(10) modify or change any provision in this Indenture or any Intercreditor Agreement relating to the payment terms or application of proceeds in connection with the Notes or the Super Priority Notes, including any payment or application of proceeds waterfalls.
(f) In addition, and subject to Section 9.02(e)(10), without the consent of Holders of 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding, no amendment, supplement or waiver may (i) modify any Collateral Document or the provisions in this Indenture relating to the Notes dealing with the Collateral Documents in any manner, taken as a whole, materially adverse to the Holders or otherwise release all or substantially all Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes other than in accordance with this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, (ii) modify or waive any of the Guarantor Release Protection Provisions, (iii) modify the Lien priority of the Notes or the Note Guarantees, or (iv) modify or change any provision of this Indenture, any Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents that adversely affects the ranking as to right of payment (it being understood that the “right of payment” here refers to contractual ranking) or payment priority of the Notes, except for (a) any “debtor-in-possession” facility (or similar financing under applicable law) or (b) any other Indebtedness for borrowed money so long as a bona fide opportunity to participate in such Indebtedness is offered ratably to all adversely affected Holders on a no less than pro rata basis (other than with respect to customary backstop or similar fees and expense reimbursement).
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(g) A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee by any Holder given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender.
(h) The Company shall not permit any amendment, modification or waiver to the Loan Documents (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) that would be adverse in any material respect to the rights or interests of any Holder.
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Upon and after, but not before, the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
(a) 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 that is effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
(b) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date pursuant to Section 1.05 for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.
(a) The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
(b) 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 and Notes Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments, etc.
(a) The Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver to this Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver to this Indenture, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 13.04, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the valid and binding obligation of the Company and any Guarantor party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof.
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(b) The Notes Collateral Agent shall sign any amendment, supplement, consent or waiver authorized pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents or Intercreditor Agreements in accordance with the terms thereof (including, without limitation, without the further consent or agreement of the Holders if so provided in such Collateral Document or the Intercreditor Agreements or otherwise in accordance with Section 9.01(b) of this Indenture) if the amendment, supplement, consent or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Notes Collateral Agent. In executing any amendment, supplement, consent or waiver to any of the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, the Notes Collateral Agent shall receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement, consent or waiver is authorized or permitted by the applicable Collateral Document and/or the Intercreditor Agreements, as the case may be, and complies with the provisions thereof.
Section 9.07. Actions by Consenting Noteholders.
In the case of any consent, waiver or other action to be taken by Holder with respect to Notes beneficially owned by a Consenting Noteholder, the Company and the Trustee, in their respective sole discretion, upon evidence satisfactory to each that such Notes are beneficially owned by such Consenting Noteholder, may accept any consent, waiver or other action taken by such Consenting Noteholder with respect to Notes it beneficially owns as having been provided or performed by the Holder thereof. The Company shall deliver a copy of the Transaction Support Agreement to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent on the Issue Date, on which each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may conclusively rely as to the identity of the parties thereto, or otherwise.
ARTICLE 10
GUARANTEES
Section 10.01. Guarantee.
(a) Subject to this Article 10 and the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, on a senior basis, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (1) the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Company to the Holders, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder or under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall 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 collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations.” Failing payment by the Company when due of any amount so Guaranteed or any performance so Guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
(b) The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.
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Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture, or pursuant to Section 10.06.
(c) Each of the Guarantors also agrees, jointly and severally, to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) Incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.
(d) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.
(e) Each Guarantor 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 Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations Guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations Guaranteed hereby, and (2) 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 the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantees.
(f) Subject to Section 11.07(b), each Note Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition or proceeding be filed by or against the Company or any Guarantor for liquidation or reorganization, should the Company or any Guarantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver, trustee, interim receiver, monitor or other similar official be appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or the Note Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer,” “transfer at undervalue” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
(g) In case any provision of any Note Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
(h) Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Note Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.
(i) The Note Guarantees will be secured by Liens, with the priority of such Liens conforming to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, subject to Permitted Liens, on the Collateral of each applicable Guarantor (which Collateral will also secure the ABL Facility and the Second-Out Notes,
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with the priority of such Liens in each case conforming to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement).
Section 10.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.
Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a preference, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or a transfer at undervalue for purposes of Bankruptcy Laws, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal, state or foreign law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.
For purposes of disclosure pursuant to the Interest Act (Canada), the annual rates of interest or fees to which the rates of interest or fees provided in this Indenture, the Notes or any Note Guarantee (and stated herein or therein, as applicable, to be computed on the basis of 360 days or any other period of time less than a calendar year) are equivalent are the rates so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in the applicable calendar year and divided by 360 or such other period of time, respectively.
If any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, any Note Guarantee or other obligations arising pursuant to this Indenture would oblige any Canadian Guarantor to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Holder in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by law or would result in a receipt by that Holder of “interest” at a “criminal rate” (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)), then, notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by applicable law or so result in a receipt by that Holder of “interest” at a “criminal rate”, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary (but only to the extent necessary), by reducing the amount or rate of interest, and, thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, costs, expenses, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to the affected Holder which would constitute interest for purposes of section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if a Holder shall have received an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada), the applicable Canadian Guarantor shall be entitled to obtain reimbursement from such Holder in an amount equal to such excess and, pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by such Holder to such Canadian Guarantor.
Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Note Guarantee will 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 based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment, determined in accordance with GAAP.
In particular,
(a) the enforcement of a Note Guarantee granted by any German Guarantor, of any security, of any joint and several liability and of any payment obligations under this Indenture or the other Note Documents (together, the “Enforcement of Claims”) are restricted if and to the extent (i) the enforcement
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proceeds of an Enforcement of Claims are applied in satisfaction of any liability of such German Guarantor’s direct or indirect shareholder(s) or partners (upstream) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder or partner (verbundenes Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (cross-stream) (other than the liabilities of any Subsidiary of the German Guarantor) and (ii) the Enforcement of Claims would cause the amount of the German GmbH Guarantor’s (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) Net Assets, as adjusted pursuant to the following provisions, to fall below the amount of its registered share capital (Stammkapital) (Begrundung einer Unterbilanz) or to increase any already existing capital impairment (Vertiefung einer Unterbilanz) or a violation of sections 30 and 31 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG), (each such event is hereinafter referred to as a “Capital Impairment”). For the purposes of the calculation of a Capital Impairment, the following balance sheet items shall be adjusted as follows:
(i) the amount of any increase of the German GmbH Guarantor’s (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) registered share capital that has been effected after the date of this Agreement (or, if at a later point, the accession thereto by the relevant German Guarantor as a Guarantor) effected without prior written consent of the Trustee shall be deducted from the German GmbH Guarantor’s (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) registered share capital;
(ii) loans provided to the German GmbH Guarantor (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be disregarded if and to the extent such loans are subordinated or are considered subordinated by operation of law at least into the rank pursuant to Section 39 para 2 of the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung);
(iii) loans or other contractual financial liabilities incurred in violation of the provisions of the Note Documents shall be disregarded;
(iv) assets of the German GmbH Guarantor (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) shall be disregarded to the extent profits would be prohibited from distribution pursuant to section 268 paragraph (8) of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch); and
(v) the amount of non-distributable assets according to section 253 paragraph (6) or section 272 paragraph (5) of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch) shall not be included in the calculation of Net Assets.
(vi) the costs of any Auditor’s Determination (as defined below) shall be taken into account in calculating the Net Assets.
In a situation where a Capital Impairment would occur in relation to a German GmbH Guarantor (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner) after the Enforcement of Claims, the German Guarantor shall without undue delay (but no later than eight (8) weeks after occurrence of such situation, unless an extension of such period is granted by the Trustee), to the extent legally permitted, dispose of all assets which are not necessary for its business (nicht betriebsnotwendig) where the relevant assets are shown in the balance sheet of the German Guarantor with a book value significantly lower than the market value of such assets (each such asset a “Relevant Asset”), unless such disposal would not be commercially justifiable. The relevant German Guarantor shall, within ten (10) Business Days upon receipt of a written request from the Trustee relating to any Relevant Asset which is not being sold pursuant to the preceding sentence, provide the Trustee with reasonably detailed information as to why it considers the sale
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of such Relevant Asset not to be commercially justifiable. In the latter case, the relevant German Guarantor and the Trustee will liaise with each other and the relevant German Guarantor shall use its reasonable efforts to make further attempts to dispose of such Relevant Asset on more beneficial terms and keep the Trustee informed about its progress on a continuous basis.
The limitation pursuant to this Section 10.02(a) shall apply, subject to the following requirements, if following a notice by a Secured Party that it intends to enforce any payment claim under the Note Guarantee granted by any German Guarantor, any security, any joint and several liability or any payment obligations under this Indenture or the other Note Documents, the German Guarantor notifies the relevant Secured Party (“Management Notification”) within 15 Business Days upon receipt of the relevant demand that a Capital Impairment would occur (setting out in reasonable detail to what extent a Capital Impairment would occur and providing an estimation of the net proceeds realization along with the calculations / information on which such estimate is based, or other measures undertaken in accordance with the mitigation provisions set out above). If the Management Notification is contested by the relevant Secured Party, the German Guarantor undertakes (at its own cost and expense) to arrange for the preparation of a balance sheet by its auditors in order to have such auditors determine whether (and if so, to what extent) any payment under this Note Guarantee or this Indenture would cause a Capital Impairment (the “Auditor’s Determination”). The Auditor’s Determination shall be prepared, taking into account the adjustments set out above in relation to the calculation of a Capital Impairment, by applying the generally accepted accounting principles applicable from time to time in Germany (Grundsatzeordnungsmafiiger Buchfuhrung) based on the same principles and evaluation methods as consistently applied by the German Guarantor in the preparation of its financial statements, in particular in the preparation of its most recent annual balance sheet, and taking into consideration applicable court rulings of German courts. The German Guarantor shall provide the Auditor’s Determination to the relevant Secured Party within twenty- five (25) Business Days from the date on which the relevant Secured Party contested the Management Notification in writing. The Auditor’s Determination shall be binding on the German Guarantor and the Secured Parties.
Notwithstanding the above, the provisions of this Section 10.02(a) shall not apply:
(i) if the German Guarantor is party as dominated entity (beherrschtes Unternehmen) of a Domination Agreement (Beherrschungsvertrag) and/or a profit and loss transfer agreement (Gewinnabfuhrungsvertrag) pursuant to section 30 para 1 sentence 2 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG) with the entity whose liabilities are secured or shall be paid, unless the enforcement of payment claims under the Note Guarantee granted by any German Guarantor, of any security, of any joint and several liability or of any payment obligations under this Indenture or the other Note Documents would cause of violations of section;
(ii) if the German Guarantor has a recourse right (Ruckgriffsanspruch) towards its direct or indirect shareholder(s) or partners (upstream) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder or partner (verbundenes Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (cross-stream) which is fully recoverable (werthaltig) at the time of the Enforcement of Claims; or to any amounts borrowed under the Note Documents to the extent the proceeds of such borrowing are on- lent to the German Guarantor or its Subsidiaries to the extent that any amounts so on-lent are still outstanding at the time the relevant demand is made against the German Guarantor.
(iii) if insolvency proceedings have been opened in relation to that German Guarantor;
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(iv) by law, changes in applicable law or applicable court rulings of the Federal Supreme Court the limitations set out in this Section 10.02(a) are not deemed to be longer required to protect the management of the German Guarantor; or
(v) if the German Guarantor has not complied with its obligations under this Section 10.02(a).
(b) Switzerland
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or any other Notes Document, if and to the extent that a Swiss Guarantor becomes liable under this Indenture or any other Notes Document for obligations other than obligations of one of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries (i.e. obligations of its respective direct or indirect parent companies (up-stream liabilities) or sister companies (cross-stream liabilities)) (the “Restricted Obligations”) and if complying with such obligations would not be permitted under Swiss corporate law then applicable, then such obligations and payment amount shall from time to time be limited to the amount permitted to be paid under applicable Swiss law; provided that such limited amount shall at no time be less than the relevant Swiss Guarantor’s distributable capital (presently being the balance sheet profits and any reserves available for distribution) at the time or times performance of the relevant obligations is due or requested from such Swiss Guarantor, and further provided that such limitation (as may apply from time to time or not) shall not (generally or definitively) release the relevant Swiss Guarantor from its obligations in excess thereof, but merely postpone the payment date therefore until such times as payment is again permitted notwithstanding such limitation.
(ii) In case a Swiss Guarantor who must make a payment in respect of Restricted Obligations under this Indenture or any other Notes Document is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in respect of such payment, such Swiss Guarantor shall:
(1) procure that such payments can be made without deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax, or with deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax at a reduced rate, by discharging the liability to such tax by notification pursuant to applicable law (including double tax treaties) rather than payment of the tax;
(2) if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the rate of 35 per cent. (or such other rate as in force from time to time), or if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) above applies for a part of the Swiss Withholding Tax only, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the reduced rate resulting after the discharge of part of such tax by notification under applicable law, from any payment made by it in respect of Restricted Obligations and promptly pay any such taxes to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (Eidgenössische Steuerverwaltung);
(3) notify the Trustee that such notification, or as the case may be, deduction has been made and provide the Trustee with evidence that such a notification of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration has been made or, as the case may be, such taxes deducted have been paid to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration;
(4) in the case of a deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax:
(A) use its best efforts to ensure that any person other than a Holder which is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment in respect of Restricted Obligations, will, as soon as possible after such deduction
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(y) request a refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax under applicable law (including tax treaties) and (z) pay to the Trustee upon receipt any amounts so refunded;
and
(B) if a Holder is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment, and if requested by the Trustee, shall provide the Trustee (on its behalf or on behalf of any Holder) those documents that are required by law and applicable tax treaties to be provided by the payer of such tax, for each relevant Holder, to prepare a claim for refund of Swiss Withholding Tax.
(iii) If a Swiss Guarantor is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in accordance with Section 10.02(b)(ii) above, the Trustee shall be entitled to further enforce the Swiss Guarantor’s obligations and apply proceeds therefrom against the Restricted Obligations up to an amount which is equal to that amount which would have been obtained if no withholding of Swiss Withholding Tax were required, whereby such further enforcements shall always be limited to the maximum amount of the freely distributable reserves of such Swiss Guarantor as set out in paragraph (i) above.
(iv) If and to the extent requested by the Trustee and if and to the extent this is from time to time required under Swiss law (restricting profit distributions), in order to allow the Trustee and the Holders to obtain a maximum benefit under this Indenture or any other Notes Document, as applicable, the relevant Swiss Guarantor shall, and any parent company of such Swiss Guarantor being a party to this Indenture or any other Notes Document shall procure that such Swiss Guarantor will, promptly implement all such measures and/or to promptly procure the fulfilment of all prerequisites allowing the prompt fulfilment of the Swiss Guarantor’s obligations and allowing the relevant Swiss Guarantor to promptly perform its obligations and make the (requested) payment(s) hereunder from time to time, including the following:
(1) preparation of an up-to-date audited balance sheet of the relevant Swiss Guarantor;
(2) confirmation of the auditors of the relevant Swiss Guarantor that the relevant amount represents (the maximum of) freely distributable capital of such Swiss Guarantor;
(3) approval by a shareholders meeting of the relevant Swiss Guarantor of the capital distribution;
(4) if the enforcement of Restricted Obligations would be limited due to the effects referred to in this clause, then the relevant Swiss Guarantor shall to the extent permitted by applicable law write up or realize any of its assets that are shown in its balance sheet with a book value that is significantly lower than the market value of the assets, in case of realization, however, only if such assets are not necessary for the relevant Swiss Guarantor’s business (nicht betriebsnotwendig); and
(5) all such other measures necessary or useful to allow payment under the Swiss Guarantor’s obligations and to allow the relevant Swiss Guarantor to make the payments and perform the obligations agreed hereunder with a minimum of limitations.
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Section 10.03. Execution and Delivery.
(a) To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer or person holding an equivalent title.
(b) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Note Guarantee on the Notes.
(c) If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note Guarantees shall be valid nevertheless.
(d) The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
(e) If required by Section 4.11, the Company shall cause any newly created or acquired Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.11 and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.
Section 10.04. Subrogation.
Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Company under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.
Section 10.05. Benefits Acknowledged.
Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the Guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Note Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
Section 10.06. Release of Note Guarantees.
(a) A Note Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Company or the Trustee shall be required for the release of such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee, upon:
(1) (A) any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange or other disposition (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Subsidiary, which sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange or other disposition is made in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture;
(B) [reserved];
(C) [reserved];
(D) the consent of the Holders in accordance with Article 9;
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(E) the Company’s exercise of its Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article 8;
(F) the satisfaction and discharge of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or
(G) such Guarantor becoming an Excluded Subsidiary under the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary”; provided that (i) the transaction or other circumstance pursuant which such Subsidiary Guarantor became an Excluded Subsidiary was made in compliance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and for bona fide business purposes without the intent or purpose of releasing such Guarantor from its Note Guarantee; and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing immediately after giving effect thereto; and
(2) in the case of clauses (a)(1)(A), (D), (E), (F) and (G) only, the Company delivering to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction or release have been complied with.
(b) At the written request of the Company, the Trustee shall execute and deliver any documents reasonably required in order to evidence such release and discharge in respect of the applicable Guarantee.
(c) In the event that any released Guarantor (in the case of Section 10.06(a)(1)) thereafter borrows money or Guarantees any other Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any Guarantor, the terms of the consent described in Section 10.06(a)(1) may provide that such former Guarantor shall again provide a Note Guarantee if required pursuant to Section 4.11.
ARTICLE 11
COLLATERAL AND SECURITY
Section 11.01. Collateral.
(a) The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and the Note Guarantees when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, interest on the overdue principal of and interest (to the extent permitted by law), if any, on the Notes and the Note Guarantees and performance of all other obligations under this Indenture, including, without limitation, the obligations of the Company set forth in Section 7.07, and the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Collateral Documents, shall be secured, to the maximum extent permitted by law, as provided in the Collateral Documents, which define the terms of the Liens that secure the Notes and the Note Guarantees, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements. The Holders, by accepting a Note, are deemed to hereby appoint Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the initial Notes Collateral Agent and the Notes Collateral Agent is hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree that the Notes Collateral Agent shall hold the Collateral in trust (or, as the case may be, as direct representative or as creditor in respect of the Parallel Debt) for the benefit of all of the Holders, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.
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(b) Each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Note Guarantees, consents and agrees to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral and the automatic amendments, supplements, consents, waivers and other modifications thereto without the consent of the Holders) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and this Indenture and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements on the Issue Date, and any Collateral Documents at any time after the Issue Date, if applicable, and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. In the event of conflict between an Intercreditor Agreement, any of the other Collateral Documents and this Indenture, the applicable Intercreditor Agreement shall control. The Company shall deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent copies of all documents required to be filed pursuant to the Collateral Documents, and will do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be reasonably required by Section 11.04(a), to assure and confirm to the Notes 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.
(c) The Trustee and each Holder, by accepting the Notes and the Note Guarantees, acknowledge that, as more fully set forth in the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of the Notes Collateral Agent, all the Holders and the Trustee, and that the Liens granted on the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents are subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and actions that may be taken thereunder. Prior to the discharge of the ABL Obligations, to the extent that the ABL Collateral Agent is satisfied with or agrees to any deliveries or documents required to be provided in respect of any matters relating to the ABL Priority Collateral or makes any determination in respect of any matters relating to the ABL Priority Collateral, including, without limitation, extensions of time or waivers for the creation and perfection of security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets (including in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Issue Date and including with respect to any time periods described in the immediately preceding paragraph), the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed to be satisfied with such deliveries, extensions or waivers, and/or documents and the judgment of the ABL Collateral Agent in respect of any such matters under the ABL Facility will be deemed to be the judgment of the Notes Collateral Agent in respect of such matters under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.
(d) Without limiting the powers of the Notes Collateral Agent, for the purposes of holding any hypothec granted pursuant to the laws of the Province of Quebec, each of the Holders hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent and, to the extent necessary, ratifies the appointment and authorization of the Notes Collateral Agent, to act as the hypothecary representative of the present and future Secured Parties as contemplated under Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Quebec (in such capacity, the “Attorney”), and to enter into, to take and to hold on their behalf, and for their benefit, any hypothec, and to exercise such powers and duties that are conferred upon the Attorney under any related deed of hypothec and applicable law. The Attorney shall: (a) have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise, except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms hereof, all rights and remedies given to the Attorney pursuant to any such deed of hypothec and applicable law, and (b) benefit from and be subject to all provisions hereof with respect to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent mutatis mutandis, including, without limitation, all such provisions with respect to the liability or responsibility to and indemnification by the Holders. Any person who becomes a Holder in accordance with the terms of this Indenture be deemed to have consented to and confirmed the Attorney as the person acting as hypothecary representative holding the aforesaid hypothecs as aforesaid and to have ratified, as of the date
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it becomes a Holder, all actions taken by the Attorney in such capacity. The substitution of the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 also constitute the substitution of the Attorney.
(e) By its acceptance of any Notes and the Note Guarantees, each Holder directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the ABL Intercreditor Agreement in its capacity as First-Out Notes Collateral Agent (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of each Holder.
Section 11.02. Maintenance of Collateral.
The Company and the Guarantors shall (a) maintain all property that is material to the conduct of their respective businesses in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) pay or cause to be paid all taxes required to have been paid by it (including in its capacity as withholding agent), except (i) any taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which the Company or such Guarantor has set aside on its books reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP or (ii) to the extent that the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
The Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies having a financial strength rating of at least A- by A.M. Best Company insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks (including, without limitation, product liability and product recall insurance) as are customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. The Company will furnish to the Notes Collateral Agent, upon request of the Holders, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained. Each such policy of liability or casualty insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor shall (a) in the case of each liability insurance policy (other than workers’ compensation, director and officer liability or other policies in which such endorsements are not customary), name the Notes Collateral Agent as an additional insured thereunder, and (b) in the case of each casualty insurance policy, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Notes Collateral Agent, as a loss payee thereunder.
Section 11.03. Impairment of Collateral.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any senior Liens and Section 11.07, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, take or knowingly or negligently omit to take, any action which action or omission would or could reasonably be expected to have the result of materially impairing the security interest with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders, unless such action or failure to take action is otherwise permitted by this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Collateral Documents.
Section 11.04. Further Assurances.
(a) On and after the Issue Date, and subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, the Company shall and shall cause each Guarantor (subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement), at their sole expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions which may be necessary, including those the Notes Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request (it being understood that the Notes Collateral Agent is under no obligation or duty to make such request), to create, better assure, preserve, protect, defend and perfect the security interests in the United States and the Specified Jurisdictions and the rights and remedies created under the Collateral Documents for the benefit of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders (subject to Permitted Liens).
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(b) On and after the Issue Date, with respect to any property (other than Excluded Property) of the Company or any Guarantors as to which the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders, does not have a perfected Lien, the Company shall and shall cause the applicable Guarantor to promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent such amendments to the Collateral Documents or such other documents as the Notes Collateral Agent deems reasonably necessary or advisable to grant to the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders, a security interest in such property and (ii) take all actions reasonably necessary or advisable to grant to the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders, a perfected first-priority security interest (subject to Liens permitted under Section 4.10) in such property, including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code and PPSA financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Collateral Documents or by law or as may be reasonably requested by the Notes Collateral Agent.
(c) On and after the Issue Date, with respect to any Subsidiary created or acquired by the Company or any Guarantor, within 30 days of such Person becoming a Subsidiary (or such later date as agreed by the Notes Collateral Agent), (i) the Company shall take all actions (if any) to cause such Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) to comply with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (ii) the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, execute and deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent such amendments to the Collateral Documents as are necessary or advisable, or as the Notes Collateral Agent may reasonably request to grant to the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders, a perfected first-priority security interest (subject to Liens permitted under Section 4.10) in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by the Company or any Guarantor except to the extent such Capital Stock constitutes an Excluded Property, and (iii) except to the extent constituting Excluded Property, if such Capital Stock is certificated, deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable.
Section 11.05. After-Acquired Property.
Subject to the applicable limitations and exceptions set forth in the Collateral Documents and this Indenture (including with respect to Excluded Property), from and after the Issue Date, if the Company or any Guarantor acquires any After-Acquired Property or if any new Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor, the Company or such Guarantor shall promptly (i) grant a first-priority perfected security interest (subject to Permitted Liens and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements) upon any such property, as security for the Notes and the Note Guarantees and (ii) execute and deliver such mortgages, deeds of trust, security instruments, financing statements and certificates as shall be necessary to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a perfected security interest, subject only to Permitted Liens, in such After-Acquired Property or in the Collateral of such Guarantor and to have such After-Acquired Property or such Collateral (but subject to the applicable limitations and exceptions set forth in the Collateral Documents and this Indenture) added to the Collateral, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such After-Acquired Property or Collateral to the same extent and with the same force and effect.
Section 11.06. Real Estate Mortgages and Filings.
(a) With respect to any Material Real Property owned by the Company or a Guarantor in the United States on the Issue Date or acquired by the Company or a Guarantor in the United States after the Issue Date that forms a part of the Collateral (individually and collectively, the “Premises”), by the Issue Date or within thirty (30) days following the date of acquisition (which period may be extended in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company, but which shall in no event be later than the date on which such applicable corresponding action or security under (1), (2) or (3) below is taken or granted under the ABL Credit Agreement or any other Material Indebtedness), as applicable:
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(1) The Company or such Guarantor shall deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as applicable, for the ratable benefit of itself and the Holders, counterparts of each Mortgage with respect to each such Premises, in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture and/or the Collateral Documents, duly executed by the Company or such Guarantor, suitable for recording in all recording offices, with such terms that are necessary to create a valid and enforceable mortgage lien (and to perfect such lien) at the time of recordation thereof, with the priority required by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements;
(2) The Notes Collateral Agent shall have received a mortgagee’s title insurance policy insuring (or committing to insure) in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent, and its successors and/or assigns, in the form necessary, with respect to the property purported to be covered by the applicable Mortgage, to insure that the interest created by such Mortgage constitutes valid mortgage liens on the applicable Premises, with the priority required by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, free and clear of all Liens, defects and encumbrances, other than Permitted Liens. Any such title policy shall be in amounts equal to the estimated Fair Market Value of the Premises covered thereby, and such policies shall also include, to the extent available, all such customary endorsements and reinsurance as are available in the applicable jurisdiction which are available at commercially reasonable rates in the jurisdiction where the applicable Premises is located; and
(3) The Company or the Guarantors shall deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent with respect to such Premises, surveys of each Premises, local counsel opinions, along with such other documents, instruments, certificates and agreements, and any other documents necessary to comply with Section 11.06(a) and (b).
Section 11.07. Release of Liens on the Collateral.
(a) Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Collateral Documents at any time and from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture, the Company and the Guarantors will be entitled to the release of property and other assets constituting Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes and the Obligations under this Indenture under any one or more of the following circumstances:
(1) to enable the Company and/or one or more Guarantors to consummate the sale, transfer or other disposition (including by the termination of capital leases or the repossession of the leased property in a capital lease by the lessor) of such property or assets (to a Person that is not the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) to the extent permitted by Section 4.16;
(2) in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Guarantee with respect to the Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the release of the property and assets of such Guarantor;
(3) with respect to any Collateral that is or becomes an “Excluded Property,” upon it becoming an Excluded Property;
(4) in connection with any enforcement action taken by an Authorized Representative in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements or the Collateral Documents; or
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(5) as described under Article 9 hereof.
(b) The Liens on the Collateral will be released with respect to the Notes and the Note Guarantees:
(1) in whole, upon payment in full of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest, including premium, if any, on the Notes;
(2) in whole, upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture;
(3) in whole, upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as set forth under Article 8;
(4) in whole or in part, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture;
(5) in respect of all or substantially all of the Collateral, with the consent of Holders holding 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes);
(6) with respect to assets of a Guarantor upon release of such Guarantor from its Note Guarantee pursuant to the terms hereof; and
(7) to enable the disposition of property or other assets that constitute Collateral to the extent not prohibited under Section 4.16;
provided that, in the case of any release in whole pursuant to clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this Section 11.07(b), all amounts owing to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantee, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements have been paid prior to such release.
(c) [Reserved].
(d) [Reserved].
(e) The Company and each Guarantor will furnish to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, prior to each proposed release of Collateral pursuant to this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 11.07(a) or 11.07(b)(4) or (5)) or pursuant to the Collateral Documents:
(1) an Officer’s Certificate requesting any such release, filing or other action without recourse, warranty or representation of any kind (express or implied); and
(2) an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, as applicable, to such release have been complied with and that it is permitted for the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent to execute and deliver the documents requested by the Company in connection with such release and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Company.
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(f) Upon compliance by the Company and each Guarantor, as the case may be, with the conditions precedent for any release of Collateral as set forth above, and if required by this Indenture upon delivery by the Company or the Guarantors to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such conditions precedent have been complied with, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall, at the Company’s expense, promptly cause to be released and reconveyed to the Company or the relevant Guarantors, as the case may be, the released Collateral, and take, at the Company’s expense, all other actions reasonably requested by the Company in connection therewith. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any such release undertaken in reliance upon any such Officer’s Certificate, and notwithstanding any term hereof or in any Collateral Document or in the Intercreditor Agreements to the contrary, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to release any such Lien and security interest, or execute and deliver any such instrument of release, satisfaction or termination, unless and until it receives such Officer’s Certificate, upon which it shall be entitled to conclusively rely.
Section 11.08. Information Regarding Collateral.
The Company will furnish to the Notes Collateral Agent, with respect to the Company or any Guarantor, promptly (and in any event within 30 days of such change or such longer period as then permitted under the facility (for the purposes of this paragraph, the “controlling facility”) governing that series of Indebtedness for which the “controlling” collateral agent for any applicable Intercreditor Agreement acts as “collateral agent”) written notice of any change in such Person’s (1) corporate or organization name, (2) jurisdiction of organization or formation or the location of its registered office, principal place of business or chief executive office, (3) identity or corporate structure or (4) organizational identification number. The Company and the Guarantors will agree not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made, or will have been made within 30 days following such change (or such longer period as then permitted under the controlling facility) or within any applicable statutory period, under the Uniform Commercial Code and any other applicable laws that are required in the Collateral Documents in order for the Collateral to be made subject to the Lien of the Notes Collateral Agent under the Collateral Documents in the manner and to the extent required by this Indenture or any of the Collateral Documents and shall take all necessary action so that such Lien is perfected with the same priority as immediately prior to such change to the extent required by the Collateral Documents. The Company also agrees promptly to notify the Notes Collateral Agent in writing if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged, destroyed or condemned in a manner which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect.
Section 11.09. Collateral Documents and Intercreditor Agreements.
The provisions in this Indenture relating to Collateral are subject to the provisions of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and, by their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders acknowledge and agree to be bound by the provisions of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.
Section 11.10. Suits to Protect the Collateral.
Subject to the provisions of Article 7, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee may direct the Notes Collateral Agent to take all actions it determines in order to:
(a) enforce any of the terms of the Collateral Documents; and hereunder.
(b) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations.
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Subject to the provisions of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have the power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may determine to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by an 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 Notes Collateral Agent may determine to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral. Nothing in this Section 11.10 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
Section 11.11. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents.
Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, 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.
Section 11.12. Purchaser Protected.
In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property purported to be released hereunder be bound to ascertain the authority of the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the 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 Company or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.
Section 11.13. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee.
In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article 11 upon the Company or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Company or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article 11; and if the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
ARTICLE 12
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 12.01. Satisfaction and Discharge.
(a) This Indenture will be discharged, and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes and Note Guarantees issued hereunder, when either:
(1) all Notes that have been authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(2) (A) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become
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due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Paying Agent, as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(B) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);
(C) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by the Company under this Indenture; and
(D) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee and the Paying Agent to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.
(b) In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01(a)(2)(A), the provisions of Section 12.02 and Section 8.06 shall survive.
Section 12.02. Application of Trust Money.
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and Section 8.06, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(b) If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 12.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.01; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent, as the case may be.
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ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Trust Indenture Act Section 318(c) in respect of Sections of the Trust Indenture Act that are incorporated by reference in this Indenture pursuant to Section 1.04, the imposed duties shall control upon and after, but not before, the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 13.02. Notices.
(a) Any notice or communication to the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent is duly given if in writing and (1) delivered in person, (2) mailed by first-class mail (certified or registered, return receipt requested), postage prepaid, or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or (3) sent by electronic transmission, to its address set forth below:
if to the Company or any Guarantor:
Fossil Group, Inc.
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
Attention: Randy Hyne, Chief Legal Officer
if to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent:
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Facsimile: 612-217-5651
Attention: Fossil Group, Inc. Administrator
The Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, by like notice, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
(b) All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; on the first date of which publication is made, if by publication; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if mailed by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; when receipt acknowledged, if sent by electronic transmission; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.
(c) Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail (certified or registered, return receipt requested) or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the Note Register or by such other delivery system as the Trustee agrees to accept. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
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(d) Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
(e) Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Note, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee), according to the Applicable Procedures, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
(f) [Reserved].
(g) The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent agree to accept and act upon notice, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by electronic transmission; provided, however, that (1) the party providing such written notice, instructions or directions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in a timely manner, and (2) such originally executed notice, instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such notice, instructions or directions. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s reasonable reliance upon and compliance with such notice, instructions or directions notwithstanding such notice, instructions or directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent notice, instructions or directions.
(h) If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
(i) If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and each Agent at the same time.
Section 13.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).
Section 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent:
(a) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05), stating that, in the opinion of the signer(s), all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05), stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with; provided that subject to Section 5.01(c), no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor, the Trustee
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and the Notes Collateral Agent of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit C.
Section 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.07 or Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(e) and 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 or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s 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 complied with.
Section 13.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 13.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members, Partners and Shareholders.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or shareholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor (other than the Company in respect of the Notes and each Guarantor in respect of its Note Guarantee) under the Notes, the Note Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
Section 13.08. Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY NOTE GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 13.09. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW
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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 NOTES OR THE NOTE GUARANTEES, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS, THE TRUSTEE, THE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT AND HOLDERS, BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF NOTES, 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, THE NOTE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 13.10. Force Majeure.
In no event shall either the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, earthquakes, fires, floods, epidemics or pandemics, accidents, labor disputes, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) or communications 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 13.11. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 13.12. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06.
Section 13.13. 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 13.14. Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 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
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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.
Section 13.15. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 13.16. PDF Delivery of Signature Pages.
The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by portable document format (“PDF”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 13.17. U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
Section 13.18. Payments Due on Non-Business Days.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, redemption date or repurchase date or the Stated Maturity of the Notes shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Notes) payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, redemption date or repurchase date, or at the Stated Maturity of the Notes, provided that no interest will accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date, repurchase date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
Section 13.19. [Reserved].
Section 13.20. Parallel Debt; Parallel Debt Owed to the Notes Collateral Agent.
This Section 13.20 is included in this Indenture solely for the purpose of ensuring the validity and effect of certain security rights governed by the laws of the Netherlands and Germany granted or to be granted pursuant to the applicable Collateral Documents and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not limit the rights and remedies provided to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent by the other provisions hereof and the provisions of the other Note Documents.
(a) Each of the Note Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Notes Collateral Agent as creditor in its own right and not as a representative of the other Secured Parties amounts equal to any amounts owing from time to time by that Note Party to any Secured Party under any Note Document as and when those amounts are due for payment under the relevant Note Document (each such payment undertaking of a Note Party in relation to any individual Secured Party, a “Parallel Debt Undertaking”, and all Parallel Debt Undertakings of each Note Party taken together, its “Parallel Debt”).
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(b) Each of the Note Parties and the Notes Collateral Agent acknowledge that the obligations of each Note Party under any Parallel Debt Undertaking are several and are separate and independent from, and shall not in any way limit or affect, the obligations of that Note Party to that relevant Secured Party under any Note Document that corresponds to the relevant Parallel Debt Undertaking (its “Corresponding Debt”) nor shall the amounts for which each Note Party is liable under any Parallel Debt Undertaking be limited or affected in any way by its Corresponding Debt provided that:
(1) the Notes Collateral Agent shall not demand payment with regard to the Parallel Debt Undertaking of a Note Party to the extent that the relevant Holder’s Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged;
(2) a Secured Party shall not demand payment with regard to the Corresponding Debt of a Note Party to the extent that such Note Party’s Parallel Debt Undertaking has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged.
(3) each Parallel Debt Undertaking shall cover, in an anticipatory manner as to its scope, any future changes in the relevant Corresponding Debt, in particular any such changes resulting from any future increase of any loan or note facility, any future extension of the agreed maturity thereof or any future change of the interest rate charged thereunder;
(4) the Parallel Debt shall be decreased to the extent that the Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably paid or discharged (other than, in each case, contingent obligations) and the Corresponding Debt shall be decreased to the extent that the Parallel Debt has been irrevocably paid or discharged;
(5) each Parallel Debt Undertaking shall be due and payable at any time from the date of this Indenture in an amount which equals the amount and currency or currencies of the relevant Corresponding Debt that is due and payable at the same time as the relevant Corresponding Debt; and
(6) each Parallel Debt Undertaking shall remain effective notwithstanding any transfer or assumption of its Corresponding Debt in whole or in part to or by any third party, irrespective of whether any such transfer or assumption is effected by way of assignment or assignment and transfer by way of assumption of contract or otherwise.
(c) The Notes Collateral Agent acts in its own name and not as a trustee, and its claims in respect of the Parallel Debt shall not be held on trust. The Collateral under the Collateral Documents granted under the Note Documents to the Notes Collateral Agent to secure the Parallel Debt Undertakings is granted to the Notes Collateral Agent in its capacity as creditor of each Parallel Debt Undertaking and shall not be held on trust.
(d) All monies received or recovered by the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 13.20, and all amounts received or recovered by the Notes Collateral Agent from or by the enforcement of any collateral under the Collateral Documents granted to secure any Parallel Debt Undertaking, shall be applied in accordance with this Indenture.
(e) Without limiting or affecting the Notes Collateral Agent’s rights against the Note Parties (whether under this Section 13.20 or under any other provision of the Note Documents), each Holder acknowledges that:
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(1) nothing in this Section 13.20 shall impose any obligation on the Notes Collateral Agent to advance any sum to any Holder or otherwise under any Note Document, except in its capacity as lender;
(2) for the purpose of any vote taken under any Note Document, the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be regarded as having any participation or commitment other than those which it has in its capacity as a lender; and
(3) for purposes of any Dutch Security Agreement, any resignation by the Notes Collateral Agent is not effective with respect to its rights under the Parallel Debt until all rights and obligations under the Parallel Debt have been assigned to and assumed by the successor agent appointed in accordance with this Indenture.
(f) The Notes Collateral Agent will reasonably cooperate in transferring its rights and obligations under the Parallel Debt to a successor agent in accordance with this Indenture and will reasonably cooperate in transferring all rights and obligations under any Collateral Document to such successor agent. All parties to this Indenture hereby, in advance, irrevocably grant their cooperation (medewerking) to such transfers of rights and obligations by the Notes Collateral Agent to a successor agent in accordance with this Indenture.
Section 13.21. Judgment Currency.
(a) If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in one currency into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, under applicable law that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase the first currency with such other currency in the city in which it normally conducts its foreign exchange operation for the first currency on the Business Day preceding the day on which final judgment is given.
(b) The obligation of the Note Parties in respect of any sum due from them to the Trustee or any Holder hereunder 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 Indenture (the “Indenture Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Trustee of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Indenture Currency the Trustee may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Indenture Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of Indenture Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Trustee in the applicable agreement currency, the Note Parties agree notwithstanding any such judgment to indemnify the Trustee against such loss, and if the amount of the Indenture Currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to the Trustee, the Trustee agrees to remit to the Note Parties such excess.
[Signatures on following page]
-129-
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |
| FOSSIL GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: President | |
| FOSSIL CANADA INC.<br><br><br>FOSSIL INTERMEDIATE, INC.<br> <br>FOSSIL<br>STORES I, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer | |
| FOSSIL TRUST | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer and Trustee |
[Signature Page toFirst-Out Notes Indenture]
| FOSSIL PARTNERS, L.P.<br><br><br>By: Fossil Group, Inc., its General Partner | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |
[Signature Page toFirst-Out Notes Indenture]
| FOSSIL (OPE) GMBH |
|---|
| By: |
All values are in Euros.
[Signature Page toFirst-Out Notes Indenture]
| FOSSIL (UK) LIMITED<br>FOSSIL (UK) HOLDINGS LIMITED |
|---|
| By: |
| FOSSIL OPE B.V. |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL GROUP OPE GMBH<br>SWISS TECHNOLOGY HOLDING GMBH |
| By: |
| By: |
All values are in Euros.
[Signature Page toFirst-Out Notes Indenture]
| WILIMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,<br><br><br>as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Jane Schweiger |
| Name: Jane Schweiger | |
| Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page toFirst-Out Notes Indenture]
APPENDIX A
PROVISIONS RELATING TO NOTES
Section 1.1 Definitions.
(a) Capitalized Terms.
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Appendix A have the meanings given to them in this Indenture. The following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Global Note, Euroclear or Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.
“DistributionCompliance Period,” means, with respect to any Note, the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Note is first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Company to the Trustee, and (b) the date of issuance with respect to such Note or any predecessor of such Note.
“IAI” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and is not a QIB.
“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.
“RegulationS” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
“United States” means the United States of America.
“Unrestricted Global Note” means any Note in global form that does not bear or is not required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
“U.S. person” means a “U.S. person” as defined in Regulation S.
(b) Other Definitions.
| Term | Defined in Section |
|---|---|
| “Agent Members” | 2.1(b) |
| “Definitive Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) |
| “ERISA Legend” | 2.2(e) |
| “Global Note” | 2.1(a) |
| “Global Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) |
Appendix A-1
| Term | Defined in Section |
|---|---|
| “IAI Global Note” | 2.1(a) |
| “Regulation S Global Note” | 2.1(a) |
| “Regulation S Notes” | 2.1(a) |
| “Restricted Notes Legend” | 2.3(d) |
| “Rule 144A Global Note” | 2.1(a) |
| “Rule 144A Notes” | 2.1(a) |
Section 2.1 Form and Dating
(a) Global Notes.
Certain of the Notes will be issued pursuant to a private placement exempted from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof. The initial purchasers of such Notes may choose to initially hold them in the form of Notes that may be (i) transferred to and held by “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144) (the “Rule 144A Notes”) or (ii) transferred to and held by a Person that is not a U.S. person in offshore transactions pursuant to Regulation S (the “Regulation S Notes”).
Rule 144A Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and the Restricted Notes Legend (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”).
Regulation S Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more global Notes in fully registered form without interest coupons bearing the Global Notes Legend, the Restricted Notes Legend and the Regulation S Global Notes Legend (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Note”), which shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the Depository for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note that are held by participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.
Unrestricted Global Notes shall be issued in the form of one or more global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend (collectively, the “Unrestricted Global Note”).
One or more global Notes in definitive fully registered form without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and the Restricted Notes Legend (collectively, the “IAI Global Note”)
Each of the Rule 144A Global Note, the IAI Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note and any Unrestricted Global Note are each referred to herein as a “Global Note” and are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes.”
Global Notes issued on the Issue Date shall be deposited with the Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture, including, in the case of the IAI Global Note to accommodate transfers of beneficial interests in the Notes to IAIs subsequent to the initial distribution.
Appendix A-2
Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests and Transfers of Principal in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.07 of this Indenture and Section 2.2(c) of this Appendix A.
(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.
The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b) and 3 of this Indenture and pursuant to an order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Custodian.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee as Custodian or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.
(c) Definitive Notes. Except as provided in Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 of this Appendix A, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.
Section 2.2 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request:
(i) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or
(ii) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations,
the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:
(1) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and
Appendix A-3
(2) in the case of Transfer Restricted Notes, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Section 2.2(b) of this Appendix A or otherwise in accordance with the Restricted Notes Legend, and are accompanied by a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto.
(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Notefor a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, together with:
(i) a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto; and
(ii) written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase,
the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If the applicable Global Note is not then outstanding, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate, upon an Authentication Order, a new applicable Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.
(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2.2(d) of this Appendix A, if any) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in such Global Note, or another Global Note and such account shall be credited in accordance with such order with a beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.
(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the
Appendix A-4
Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix A (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.3 of this Appendix A), a Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole and not in part if the transfer is 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.
(d)Restrictions on Transfer of Global Notes; Voluntary Exchange of Interests in Transfer Restricted GlobalNotes for Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.
(i) Transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through another Transfer Restricted Global Note shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and only upon receipt by the Trustee of a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto. In addition, in the case of a transfer of a beneficial interest in either a Regulation S Global Note or a Rule 144A Global Note for an interest in an IAI Global Note, the transferee must furnish a signed letter substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Trustee.
(ii) During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear or Clearstream in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, the Restricted Notes Legend on such Regulation S Global Note and any applicable securities laws of any state of the U.S. Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note shall be made only in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification from the transferor of the beneficial interest in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers. Such written certification shall no longer be required after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period. Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note shall be transferable in accordance with applicable law and the other terms of the Indenture.
(iii) Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note upon certification in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for an exchange from a Regulation S Global Note to an Unrestricted Global Note.
(iv) Beneficial interests in a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A) and/or upon delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.
Appendix A-5
(v) If no Unrestricted Global Note is outstanding at the time of a transfer contemplated by the preceding clauses (iii) and (iv), the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon an Authentication Order, a new Unrestricted Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(vi) In the case of a Global Note, so long as such Notes are registered in the name of the Depositary or the Trustee, (a) the holders of beneficial interests in the Notes evidenced thereby shall have no rights under the Notes with respect to such Notes held on their behalf by the Depositary or the Trustee, as the case may be, and (b) the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Notes for all purposes whatsoever, except, in each case, to the extent set forth herein. Accordingly, any such owner’s beneficial interest in the Global Notes will be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or the Agent Members, and neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility with respect to such records maintained by the Depositary or the Agent Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall (i) prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or (ii) impair, as between the Depositary and the Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note. Except as otherwise may be provided in this Indenture, the rights of beneficial owners in a Global Note shall be exercised through the Depositary subject to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary. Any holder of any Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that (x) ownership of a beneficial interest in the Notes represented thereby shall be required to be reflected in book-entry form and (y) the transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture and the Notes and the procedures of the Depositary therefor.
(e) Legends.
(i) Except as permitted by Section 2.2(d), this Section 2.2(e) and Section 2.2(i) of this Appendix A, each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes (other than the Unrestricted Global Note) and the Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof but other than any Unrestricted Definitive Note) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only) (“Restricted Notes Legend”):
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO FOSSIL GROUP, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT
Appendix A-6
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) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.
Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Definitive Notes Legend”):
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
Each Global Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Global Notes Legend”):
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
Each Regulation S Global Note shall bear the following additional legend (the “Regulation S Global Notes Legend”):
Appendix A-7
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
Each Note, if applicable, shall bear the following additional legend (“ERISA Legend”):
BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF ANY (A) “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”) WHICH IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA, (B) PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT DESCRIBED IN SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), WHICH IS SUBJECT TO THE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR ANY OTHER U.S. OR NON-U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (COLLECTIVELY, “SIMILAR LAWS”), OR (C) ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE THE ASSETS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING DESCRIBED IN CLAUSES (A) AND (B), PURSUANT TO ERISA, ANY SIMILAR LAWS OR OTHERWISE, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WILL NOT CONSTITUTE OR RESULT IN A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.
(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and the Definitive Notes Legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A) and provides such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.
(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Notes or Additional Notes during the period of the effectiveness of a shelf registration statement with respect to such Initial Notes or Additional Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Notes Legend on such Initial Notes or Additional Notes shall cease to apply and the requirements that any such Initial Notes or Additional Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply.
(iv) Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by the Depositary to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred
Appendix A-8
in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Registrar (if it is then the Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Registrar or the Custodian, to reflect such reduction.
(g) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 or at the Registrar’s request
(ii) No service charge shall be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange (other than pursuant to Section 2.08 of this Indenture), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06, 3.10, 4.15, 4.16 and 9.05 of this Indenture).
(iii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(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 Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(v) In order to effect any transfer or exchange of an interest in any Transfer Restricted Note for an interest in a Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and has not been registered under the Securities Act, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel, in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that no registration under the Securities Act is required in respect of such exchange or transfer or the resale of such interest by the beneficial holder thereof, shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar and the Trustee.
(h) No Obligation of the Trustee.
(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon
Appendix A-9
information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section 2.3 Definitive Notes.
(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 may be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.2 of this Appendix A and the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in each case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or after the Company becomes aware of such cessation. In addition, any Affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor that is a beneficial owner of all or part of a Global Note may have such Affiliate’s beneficial interest transferred to such Affiliate in the form of a Definitive Note by providing a written request to the Company and the Trustee and such Opinions of Counsel, certificates or other information as may be required by this Indenture or the Company or Trustee.
(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.2(e) of this Appendix A, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
(c) The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.
(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.3(a) of this Appendix A, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in fully registered form without interest coupons.
Appendix A-10
APPENDIX B
POST-CLOSING MATTERS
| 1. | The Note Parties shall deliver, (or cause to be delivered) to the Collateral Agent duly executed Control<br>Agreements or evidence of other control arrangements as required by clause (a) of the definition of Collateral and Guarantee Requirement. |
|---|
Appendix B-1
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]
[Insert the Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the Global Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the Definitive Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the Regulation S Global Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.]
[Insert the ERISA Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.]
Exhibit A-1
[CUSIP [ ]
ISIN [ ]^1^]^2^
[RULE 144A][REGULATION S][IAI][GLOBAL]
9.500% First-Out First Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029
No. [RA- ] [RS- ] [RIAI- ] [U- ] [Up to]^3^ [$ ]
FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
promises to pay to [●]^4^ [ ] or registered assigns the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests and Transfers of Principal in the Global Note attached hereto]^5^ [of $ ( Dollars),]^6^ together with the Applicable Premium, on January 1, 2029.
Interest Payment Dates: March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15
Record Dates: March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1
| 1 | Rule 144A Note CUSIP: | [●] |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 144A Note ISIN: | [●] | |
| Regulation S Note CUSIP: | [●] | |
| Regulation S Note ISIN: | [●] | |
| IAI Note CUSIP: | [●] | |
| IAI Note ISIN: | [●] | |
| Unrestricted Note CUSIP: | [●] | |
| Unrestricted Note ISIN: | [●] | |
| 2 | Include in Global Notes | |
| 3 | Include in Global Notes. | |
| 4 | Include in Global Notes | |
| 5 | Include in Global Notes | |
| 6 | Include in Definitive Notes |
Exhibit A-2
IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |
| Dated: |
Exhibit A-3
[Reverse Side of Note]
9.500% First-Out First Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. INTEREST. Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest (subject to paragraph 2 of this Section 1) on the principal amount of this Note at 9.500% per annum until but excluding maturity. The Company shall pay interest quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, beginning on March 15, 2026 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be March 15, 2026. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Laws) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Laws) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
Upon the occurrence of a Borrowing Base Overage, the rate of interest shall be immediately increased by an additional fixed rate of 2.00% per annum (with such increase being solely in the form of PIK Interest) with respect to all remaining days in the Interest Period during which such Borrowing Base Overage occurred and is outstanding and for all following Interest Periods during which a Borrowing Base Overage has occurred and is outstanding.
2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company shall pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.13 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Principal, premium, if any, and cash interest (in accordance with the terms hereof) on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Company, payment of cash interest and premium, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the Note Register; provided that, in the case of all cash payments, payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal, premium, if any, and cash interest on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent at least five Business Days prior to the applicable payment date. Such cash payments shall be in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. In the event the Company is required to pay PIK Interest for any applicable Interest Period upon the occurrence of a Borrowing Base Overage in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Company will pay interest due for such Interest Period for all outstanding Notes by increasing the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes or issuing additional notes (the “PIK Notes”) under the Indenture having the same terms as the Notes (in each case, a “PIK Payment”). Any increase to the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes will be recorded on each Note by the Registrar on the applicable Interest Payment Date. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Notes” herein includes any PIK Notes that are actually issued, and references to “principal amount” or “aggregate principal amount” of the Notes include any increase in the principal amount or aggregate principal amount of the Notes as a result of a PIK Payment. For the avoidance of doubt, any PIK Notes will be part of the same issue as the Notes, including for purposes of determining whether the required
Exhibit A-4
percentage of Holders have given approval or consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver or joined in directing the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent. On any Interest Payment Date on which the Company pays PIK Interest with respect to a Definitive Note or otherwise issues definitive PIK Notes, the principal amount of any definitive PIK Notes issued to any Holder, for the relevant Interest Period on the principal amount of such Note as of the relevant Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, shall be rounded up to the nearest whole dollar.
3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
4. INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under a Senior Secured Notes Indenture, dated as of November 13, 2025 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), among Fossil Group, Inc., the Guarantors named therein, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Company designated as its 9.500% First-Out First Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029. The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The Notes and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of such terms. Any term used in this Note that is defined in the Indenture shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Indenture. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
5. REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE. The Notes are subject to optional redemption, and may be the subject of an Offer to Purchase, as further described in the Indenture. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
6. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. 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, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and Holders shall be required to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption or tendered for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Disposition Offer, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part.
7. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.
8. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.
9. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights and obligations of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders shall be as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
Exhibit A-5
10. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual, electronic or facsimile signature of the Trustee.
11. GOVERNING LAW. THIS NOTE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
12. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, TO THE NON- EXCLUSIVE 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 NOTES OR THE NOTE GUARANTEES, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS, THE TRUSTEE AND THE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT 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, THE NOTE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
13. CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
14. SECURITY. The Notes and the Note Guarantees will be secured by the Collateral on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and the Collateral Documents. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, hold the Collateral in trust for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders, in each case pursuant to the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. Each Holder, by accepting this Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and the Indenture and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance therewith.
15. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the liens and security interests securing the Obligations evidenced by this Note, the exercise of any right or remedy with respect thereto, and certain of the rights of the Holder hereof are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements. In the event of any conflict between the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement and this Note, the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.
The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Company at the following address:
Fossil Group, Inc.
901 S. Central Expressway
Exhibit A-6
Richardson, Texas 75080
Attention: Randy Hyne, Chief Legal Officer
Exhibit A-7
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:
(Insert assignee’s legal name)
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date:
| Your Signature: | |
|---|---|
| (Sign exactly as your name appears | |
| on the face of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee*
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
Exhibit A-8
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES
This certificate relates to $ principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)
☐ book-entry or ☐ definitive form by the undersigned.
The undersigned (check one box below):
| ☐ | has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global<br>Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with<br>the Indenture; or |
|---|---|
| ☐ | has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.<br> |
| --- | --- |
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ | to the Company or subsidiary thereof; or |
|---|---|---|
| (2) | ☐ | to the Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or |
| (3) | ☐ | pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “SecuritiesAct”); or |
| (4) | ☐ | to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule<br>144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case<br>pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or |
| (5) | ☐ | pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United<br>States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream);<br>or |
| (6) | ☐ | to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the<br>Securities Act) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or |
| (7) | ☐ | pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or |
| (8) | ☐ | pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. |
Exhibit A-9
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5), (6), (7) or (8) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Date:
| Your Signature: | |
|---|---|
| (Sign exactly as your name appears | |
| on the face of this Note) | |
| Signature of Signature Guarantee* |
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Date:
| NOTICE: To be executed by an executive<br>officer |
|---|
| Name: |
| Title: |
Signature Guarantee*
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
Exhibit A-10
TO BE COMPLETED IF THE HOLDER REQUIRES AN EXCHANGE FROM A
REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE TO AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE,
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2(D)(III) OF APPENDIX A TO THE INDENTURE
The undersigned represents and warrants that either:
| ☐ | the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a<br>non-U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); or |
|---|---|
| ☐ | the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a U.S. person (within the meaning<br>of Regulation S under the Securities Act) who purchased interests in the Notes pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act; or |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | the undersigned is a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and the interest of the undersigned in this<br>Note does not constitute the whole or a part of an unsold allotment to or subscription by such dealer for the Notes. |
| --- | --- |
Date:
| Your Signature: |
|---|
Exhibit A-11
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.15 or Section 4.16 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
☐ Section 4.15 ☐ Section 4.16
If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.15 or Section 4.16 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
$ (integral multiples of $1.00,
provided that the unpurchased portion must be in a minimum principal amount of $1.00)
Date:
| Your Signature: | |
|---|---|
| (Sign exactly as your name appears | |
| on the face of this Note) | |
| Tax Identification No.: |
Signature Guarantee*
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
Exhibit A-12
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS AND TRANSFERS
OF PRINCIPAL IN THE GLOBAL NOTE
The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $ . 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<br><br><br>Exchange<br><br><br>or Increase | Amount of<br><br><br>decrease inPrincipal<br><br><br>Amount of thisGlobal Note | Amount of<br><br><br>increase in<br><br><br>Principal<br><br><br>Amount of thisGlobal Note | Principal<br><br><br>Amount of thisGlobal Notefollowing suchdecrease or<br><br><br>increase | Signature ofauthorized<br><br><br>signatory orTrustee, Depositaryor Custodian |
|---|
Exhibit A-13
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF
TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION
Fossil Group, Inc.
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
Attention: Randy Hyne, Chief Legal Officer
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[ ] principal amount of the 9.500% First-Out First Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) of Fossil Group, Inc. (the “Company”).
Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:
| Name: |
|---|
| Address: |
| Taxpayer ID Number: |
The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:
1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor”, and we are acquiring the Notes, for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We 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 invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.
2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes only in accordance with the Restricted Notes Legend (as such term is defined in the indenture under which the Notes were issued) on the Notes and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (e) of the Restricted Notes Legend, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Company and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Company and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer of the Notes with respect to applicable transfers described in the Restricted Notes Legend to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee.
Exhibit B-1
| TRANSFEREE | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
Exhibit B-2
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS
Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of [ ] [ ], 20[ ], among Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), [ ] (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of the Company, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and notes collateral agent (in such capacity, the “NotesCollateral Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, each of the Company and the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an indenture dated as of [___] (as may be further amended from time to time, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of 9.500% First-Out First Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally Guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:
1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. Guarantor. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to be a Guarantor under the Indenture and to be bound by the terms of the Indenture applicable to Guarantors, including Article 12 thereof.
3. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
4. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
5. Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Exhibit C-1
6. The Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent makes any representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.
7. Guarantee Limitations Language. [To be inserted if applicable based onjurisdiction].
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| [NAME OF GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY] | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL<br><br><br>ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,<br><br><br><br> <br>as Notes Collateral Agent | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
Exhibit C-2
EX-4.3
Exhibit 4.3
SENIOR SECURED NOTES INDENTURE
dated as of November 13, 2025
among
FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent
7.500% SECOND-OUT SECOND LIEN SECURED SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
| Trust Indenture ActSection | Indenture Section |
|---|---|
| 310(a)(1) | 7.11 |
| (a)(2) | 7.11 |
| (a)(3) | N.A |
| (a)(4) | N.A |
| (a)(5) | 7.11 |
| (b) | 7.11 |
| 311(a) | 7.12 |
| (b) | 7.12 |
| 312(a) | 2.06 |
| (b) | 2.06; 13.03 |
| (c) | 13.03 |
| 313(a) | 7.06 |
| (b) | 11.07 |
| (b)(2) | 7.06; 7.07 |
| (c) | 7.06; 13.02 |
| (d) | 7.06 |
| 314(a) | 4.06; 13.02; 13.05 |
| (b) | 11.07 |
| (c)(1) | 13.04 |
| (c)(2) | 13.04 |
| (c)(3) | N.A. |
| (d) | 11.07 |
| (e) | 13.05 |
| (f) | N.A. |
| 315(a) | 7.01 |
| (b) | 7.05; 13.02 |
| (c) | 7.01 |
| (d) | 7.01 |
| (e) | 6.14 |
| 316(a)(last sentence) | 2.10 |
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.05 |
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.04 |
| (a)(2) | N.A. |
| (b) | 6.07 |
| (c) | 1.05; 2.13; 9.04 |
| 317(a)(1) | 6.08 |
| (a)(2) | 6.12 |
| (b) | 2.05 |
| 318(a) | 13.01 |
| (b) | N.A. |
| (c) | 13.01 |
N.A. means not applicable.
* This Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | ||
| Section 1.01. | Definitions | 1 | |
| Section 1.02. | Other Definitions | 40 | |
| Section 1.03. | Rules of Construction | 42 | |
| Section 1.04. | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 42 | |
| Section 1.05. | Acts of Holders | 43 | |
| Section 1.06. | Quebec Interpretive Provisions | 45 | |
| Section 1.07. | [Reserved] | 45 | |
| Section 1.08. | Dutch Terms | 45 | |
| ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES | 46 | ||
| Section 2.01. | Amount of Notes | 46 | |
| Section 2.02. | Form and Dating; Terms. | 47 | |
| Section 2.03. | Execution and Authentication | 47 | |
| Section 2.04. | Registrar and Paying Agent | 48 | |
| Section 2.05. | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 48 | |
| Section 2.06. | Holder Lists | 49 | |
| Section 2.07. | Transfer and Exchange | 49 | |
| Section 2.08. | Replacement Notes | 50 | |
| Section 2.09. | Outstanding Notes | 50 | |
| Section 2.10. | Treasury Notes | 51 | |
| Section 2.11. | Temporary Notes | 51 | |
| Section 2.12. | Cancellation | 51 | |
| Section 2.13. | Defaulted Interest | 51 | |
| Section 2.14. | CUSIP and ISIN Numbers | 52 | |
| ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION | 52 | ||
| Section 3.01. | Notices to Trustee | 52 | |
| Section 3.02. | Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased | 52 | |
| Section 3.03. | Notice of Redemption | 53 | |
| Section 3.04. | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 54 | |
| Section 3.05. | Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price | 54 | |
| Section 3.06. | Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part | 55 | |
| Section 3.07. | Optional Redemption | 55 | |
| Section 3.08. | Mandatory Redemption | 55 | |
| Section 3.09. | [Reserved] | 56 | |
| Section 3.10. | [Reserved] | 56 | |
| ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS | 56 | ||
| Section 4.01. | Payment of Notes | 56 | |
| Section 4.02. | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 56 | |
| Section 4.03. | Taxes | 56 | |
| Section 4.04. | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 57 | |
| Section 4.05. | Corporate Existence | 57 | |
| Section 4.06. | Reports and Other Information | 57 | |
| Section 4.07. | Compliance Certificate | 58 | |
| Section 4.08. | Limitation on Restricted Payments | 58 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 4.09. | Limitation on Indebtedness | 60 | |
| Section 4.10. | Limitation on Liens | 64 | |
| Section 4.11. | Future Guarantors | 64 | |
| Section 4.12. | Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions From Subsidiaries | 65 | |
| Section 4.13. | [Reserved] | 67 | |
| Section 4.14. | Transactions with Affiliates | 67 | |
| Section 4.15. | Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control | 67 | |
| Section 4.16. | Asset Dispositions | 69 | |
| Section 4.17. | [Reserved] | 70 | |
| Section 4.18. | Deposit Accounts. | 70 | |
| Section 4.19. | [Reserved] | 70 | |
| Section 4.20. | Collateral and Guarantee Requirement. | 70 | |
| ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS | 71 | ||
| Section 5.01. | Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets | 71 | |
| ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 73 | ||
| Section 6.01. | Events of Default | 73 | |
| 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 to Receive Payment | 78 | |
| Section 6.08. | Collection Suit by Trustee | 78 | |
| Section 6.09. | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 78 | |
| Section 6.10. | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 78 | |
| Section 6.11. | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 78 | |
| Section 6.12. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 79 | |
| Section 6.13. | Priorities | 79 | |
| Section 6.14. | Undertaking for Costs | 80 | |
| ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT | 80 | ||
| Section 7.01. | Duties of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent | 80 | |
| Section 7.02. | Rights of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent | 81 | |
| Section 7.03. | Individual Rights of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent | 84 | |
| Section 7.04. | Disclaimer | 84 | |
| Section 7.05. | Notice of Defaults | 84 | |
| Section 7.06. | Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes | 84 | |
| Section 7.07. | Compensation and Indemnity | 84 | |
| Section 7.08. | Appointment of the Notes Collateral Agent | 85 | |
| Section 7.09. | Replacement of Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent | 88 | |
| Section 7.10. | Successor by Merger, etc | 89 | |
| Section 7.11. | Eligibility; Disqualification | 89 | |
| Section 7.12. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company | 89 | |
| Section 7.13. | Collateral Documents; Intercreditor Agreements | 89 | |
| ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE | 90 | ||
| Section 8.01. | Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 90 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 8.02. | Legal Defeasance and Discharge | 90 | |
| Section 8.03. | Covenant Defeasance | 91 | |
| Section 8.04. | Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance | 91 | |
| Section 8.05. | Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 92 | |
| Section 8.06. | Repayment to the Company | 93 | |
| Section 8.07. | Reinstatement | 93 | |
| ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER | 93 | ||
| Section 9.01. | Without Consent of Holders | 93 | |
| Section 9.02. | With Consent of Holders | 96 | |
| Section 9.03. | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 98 | |
| Section 9.04. | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 98 | |
| Section 9.05. | Notation on or Exchange of Notes | 98 | |
| Section 9.06. | Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments, etc. | 98 | |
| ARTICLE 10 GUARANTEES | 99 | ||
| Section 10.01. | Guarantee | 99 | |
| Section 10.02. | Limitation on Guarantor Liability | 101 | |
| Section 10.03. | Execution and Delivery | 105 | |
| Section 10.04. | Subrogation | 106 | |
| Section 10.05. | Benefits Acknowledged | 106 | |
| Section 10.06. | Release of Note Guarantees | 106 | |
| ARTICLE 11 COLLATERAL AND SECURITY | 107 | ||
| Section 11.01. | Collateral | 107 | |
| Section 11.02. | Maintenance of Collateral | 109 | |
| Section 11.03. | Impairment of Collateral | 109 | |
| Section 11.04. | Further Assurances | 109 | |
| Section 11.05. | After-Acquired Property | 110 | |
| Section 11.06. | Real Estate Mortgages and Filings | 110 | |
| Section 11.07. | Release of Liens on the Collateral | 111 | |
| Section 11.08. | Information Regarding Collateral | 113 | |
| Section 11.09. | Collateral Documents and Intercreditor Agreements | 113 | |
| Section 11.10. | Suits to Protect the Collateral | 113 | |
| Section 11.11. | Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents | 114 | |
| Section 11.12. | Purchaser Protected | 114 | |
| Section 11.13. | Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee | 114 | |
| ARTICLE 12 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 114 | ||
| Section 12.01. | Satisfaction and Discharge | 114 | |
| Section 12.02. | Application of Trust Money | 115 | |
| ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS | 115 | ||
| Section 13.01. | Trust Indenture Act Controls | 115 | |
| Section 13.02. | Notices | 116 | |
| Section 13.03. | Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 117 | |
| Section 13.04. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 117 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 13.05. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 117 | |
| Section 13.06. | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 118 | |
| Section 13.07. | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members, Partners and Shareholders | 118 | |
| Section 13.08. | Governing Law | 118 | |
| Section 13.09. | Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial | 118 | |
| Section 13.10. | Force Majeure | 119 | |
| Section 13.11. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 119 | |
| Section 13.12. | Successors | 119 | |
| Section 13.13. | Severability | 119 | |
| Section 13.14. | Counterpart Originals | 119 | |
| Section 13.15. | Table of Contents, Headings, etc | 119 | |
| Section 13.16. | PDF Delivery of Signature Pages | 120 | |
| Section 13.17. | U.S.A. PATRIOT Act | 120 | |
| Section 13.18. | Payments Due on Non-Business Days | 120 | |
| Section 13.20. | Parallel Debt; Parallel Debt Owed to the Notes Collateral Agent | 120 | |
| Section 13.21. | Judgment Currency. | 122 |
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| Appendix A | Provisions Relating to Notes |
|---|---|
| Appendix B | Post-Closing Matters |
| Form of | |
| Exhibit A | Note |
| Exhibit B | Institutional Accredited Investor Transferee Letter of Representation |
| Exhibit C | Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors |
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INDENTURE, dated as of November 13, 2025 among Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and notes collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Notes Collateral Agent”).
WI T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the creation of and issue of $29,824,133 aggregate principal amount of 7.500% Second-Out Second Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Initial Notes”); and
WHEREAS, the Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01. Definitions.
“2026 Notes” means the Company’s 7.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 issued pursuant to the 2026 Notes Indenture.
“2026 Notes Indenture” means that certain indenture, dated as of November 8, 2021, among the Company, as issuer, and the 2026 Notes Trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of November 8, 2021, and as further amended, amended and restated, or supplemented from time to time, relating to the 2026 Notes.
“2026 Notes Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., until such time, if any, that a successor replaces such party in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 2026 Notes Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving thereunder.
“ABL Agreement” means the collective reference to (a) the ABL Credit Agreement or any other credit agreement governing the ABL Facility, (b) any Additional ABL Agreement and (c) any other credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Indebtedness or other financial accommodation that has been Incurred to extend, replace, refinance or refund in whole or in part the Indebtedness and other obligations outstanding under the ABL Facility (regardless of whether such replacement, refunding or refinancing is a “working capital” facility, asset-based facility or otherwise), any Additional ABL Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred to in this clause (c) unless such agreement or instrument expressly provides that it is not intended to be and is not an ABL Agreement hereunder (a “Replacement ABL Agreement”). Any reference to the ABL Agreement hereunder shall be deemed a reference to any ABL Agreement then extant.
“ABL Collateral Agent” means (a) in the case of any ABL Priority Collateral owned or hereinafter acquired by any ABL Loan Party, ACF FINCO I LP (together with its successors and permitted assigns), as collateral agent for the ABL Secured Parties and (b) in the case of any Replacement ABL Agreement or any other ABL Agreement, the Person identified as such in such agreement.
“ABL Credit Agreement” means (a) that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2025, among the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries, the ABL Facility Administrative Agent, the ABL Collateral Agent party thereto, and the lenders parties thereto from time to time, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time (including increasing the amount loaned thereunder), and including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified or refinanced from time to time, and (if designated by the Company) as replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), amended, restated, amended and restated, modified or refinanced (in whole or in part) from time to time, including (if designated by the Company) by any agreement or indenture or commercial paper facility with banks or other institutional lenders or investors extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder expressly permitted by Section 4.09 or adding Subsidiaries as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders, (b) any other agreement, agreements, debt facility or other financing arrangement that is otherwise expressly permitted by Section 4.09 and (c) any other documents governing Indebtedness under any Additional ABL Agreement.
“ABL Creditors” means collectively, the “Lenders” and the “Secured Parties,” each as defined in the ABL Agreement or any Persons that are designated under the ABL Agreement as the “ABL Creditors” for purposes of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
“ABL Documents” means, collectively, the ABL Credit Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing other ABL Indebtedness and ABL Security Documents related to the foregoing.
“ABL Facility” means any credit facility established by the ABL Credit Agreement and the other ABL Documents.
“ABL Facility Administrative Agent” means, initially, ACF FINCO I LP in its capacity as the administrative agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, or any successor representative acting in such capacity and any other agent or other representative under the ABL Documents.
“ABL Indebtedness” means the Obligations in respect of the ABL Facility.
“ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the ABL Collateral Agent, the Notes Collateral Agent, the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, and each additional agent from time to time party thereto, and acknowledged by the grantors from time to time party thereto, as may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time.
“ABL Loan Parties” means, collectively, the borrowers and guarantors from time to time party to the ABL Documents.
“ABL Obligations” means (a) all principal of and interest (including, without limitation any post-petition interest) and premium (if any) on all loans made pursuant to the ABL Agreement or any ABL DIP Financing (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) by the ABL Creditors, (b) all reimbursement obligations (if any) and interest thereon (including without limitation any post-petition interest) with respect to any letter of credit or similar instruments issued pursuant to the ABL Agreement, (c) all Swap Obligations (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), (d) all Banking Services Obligations (as defined in the
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ABL Intercreditor Agreement) and (e) all guarantee obligations, indemnities, fees, expenses (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the ABL Representatives (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) or any ABL Creditors) and other amounts payable from time to time pursuant to the ABL Documents, in each case whether or not allowed or allowable in an insolvency proceeding. To the extent any payment with respect to any ABL Obligation (whether by or on behalf of any ABL Loan Party, as proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be a fraudulent conveyance or a preference in any respect, set aside or required to be paid to a debtor in possession, any Notes Secured Party (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), receiver or similar Person, then the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall, for the purposes of this Indenture and the rights and obligations of the ABL Secured Parties and the Notes Secured Parties (as defined in the ABL Agreement), be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred.
“ABL Priority Collateral” means all Collateral consisting of the following (including for the avoidance of doubt, any such assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision in any other Bankruptcy Law, would be ABL Priority Collateral):
(1) all Credit Card Receivables, Payment Intangibles, and all Accounts (other than Accounts which constitute identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral);
(2) cash, Money, cash proceeds, and cash equivalents (other than cash, Money, cash proceeds and cash equivalents which constitute identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral);
(3) all (x) Deposit Accounts (other than Notes Priority Accounts that solely contain Notes Priority Collateral) and all Money, cash, cash proceeds, checks, other negotiable instruments, funds and other evidences of payments held therein, including (to the extent owing in respect of ABL Priority Collateral) funds on account of intercompany indebtedness between or among the Note Parties or their Affiliates, (y) Securities Accounts (other than Notes Priority Accounts that solely contain Notes Priority Collateral), Security Entitlements, Financial Assets and Securities credited to such a Securities Account (other than Equity Interests of Note Parties and their Subsidiaries) and (z) Commodity Accounts (other than Notes Priority Accounts that solely contain Notes Priority Collateral or identifiable proceeds of the Notes Priority Collateral) and Commodity Contracts credited thereto, and, in each case, all cash, Money, cash proceeds, cash equivalents, checks and other property held therein or credited thereto; provided, however, that to the extent that identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral are deposited in any such Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, after the delivery of a Notes Cash Proceeds Notice, such identifiable proceeds (to the extent not applied to the repayment of ABL Obligations prior to the receipt of such Notes Cash Proceeds Notice), shall be treated as Notes Priority Collateral so long as such proceeds are in fact Notes Priority Collateral;
(4) all Inventory;
(5) all intercompany indebtedness arising from (x) intercompany advances utilizing proceeds of Loans (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and (y) all intercompany indebtedness arising from intercompany transfers of items referred to in the preceding clauses (1)-(4); provided that to the extent any of the foregoing in this clause (5) also relates to Notes Priority Collateral only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (x) through (y) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;
(6) all proceeds, receivables, products, substitutions or replacements of the Loans (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and other credit extensions made under the ABL Documents;
(7) at all times prior to the Collateral Designation Date (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), the Specified Collateral;
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(8) to the extent relating to, evidencing or governing any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (7) constituting ABL Priority Collateral, all Documents, General Intangibles (including all rights under contracts), Instruments (including the Intercompany Note Documents and other Promissory Notes), Chattel Paper (including Tangible Chattel Paper and Electronic Chattel Paper) and Commercial Tort Claims; provided that to the extent any of the foregoing in this clause (8) also relates to Notes Priority Collateral, only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (7) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;
(9) to the extent relating to any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (8) constituting ABL Priority Collateral, all Supporting Obligations and Letter-of-Credit Rights; provided that to the extent any of the foregoing in this clause (9) also relates to Notes Priority Collateral only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (8) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;
(10) all books and Records relating to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (9) constituting ABL Priority Collateral (including all books, databases, customer lists, engineer drawings, and Records, whether tangible or electronic, which contain any information relating to any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (9) constituting ABL Priority Collateral); and
(11) all collateral security and guarantees with respect to any of the foregoing and, subject to Section 3.7 of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, all cash, Money, cash equivalents, insurance proceeds (including all proceeds of credit insurance and provided that with respect to, proceeds of business interruption insurance, only 50% of such proceeds of business interruption insurance shall constitute ABL Priority Collateral), receivables, products, substitutions, replacements, Instruments, Securities and Financial Assets received as proceeds or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing (such items in this clause (11), the “ABL Priority Proceeds”).
Any capitalized term used in this definition but not otherwise defined herein shall be defined as set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
“ABL Secured Parties” means the ABL Collateral Agent, the ABL Facility Administrative Agent, the ABL Creditors and any other holders of the ABL Obligations.
“ABL SecurityDocuments” means all security agreements, pledge agreements, control agreements, collateral assignments, Mortgages, deeds of trust, security deeds, deeds to secure debt, hypothecs, collateral agency agreements, debentures or other instruments, pledges, grants or transfers for security or agreements related thereto executed and delivered by the Company, any or any Guarantor creating or perfecting (or purporting to create or perfect) a Lien upon Collateral (including, without limitation, financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code) in favor of the ABL Collateral Agent, for the benefit of any of the ABL Secured Parties, in each case, as amended, amended and restated, modified, restated, supplemented or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance with its terms and the applicable ABL Documents subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, as applicable.
“Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, (1) Indebtedness of any Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, (2) Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, or (3) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person, in each case whether or not Incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such acquisition. Acquired Indebtedness shall be deemed to have been Incurred, with respect to clause (1) of the preceding sentence, on the date such is merged , consolidated or amalgamated with or into such
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specified Person or becomes a Subsidiary and, with respect to clauses (2) and (3) of the preceding sentence, on the date of consummation of such acquisition of assets.
“Additional ABL Agreement” means any agreement evidencing or governing the incurrence of additional indebtedness that is permitted to be secured by the Collateral securing any ABL Indebtedness on a pari passu basis with other ABL Indebtedness and treated as an ABL Agreement pursuant to the ABL Agreement.
“Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01 and Section 4.09, whether or not they bear the same CUSIP number as the Initial Notes.
“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 the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlledby” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any Person means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“After-Acquired Property” means property (other than Excluded Property) that is intended to be Collateral acquired by the Company or a Guarantor (including property of a Person that becomes a new Guarantor after the Issue Date) that is not automatically subject to a perfected security interest under the Collateral Documents.
“Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.
“Asset Disposition” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) of any property by any Person (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any issuance of Capital Stock by a Subsidiary of such 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
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be deemed to be Asset Dispositions:
(1) dispositions of assets, including by means of a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or similar transaction, by a Guarantor to the Company or by the Company or a Guarantor to a Guarantor;
(2) dispositions of assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to or less than $5,000,000 in any fiscal year (with the Fair Market Value of each such disposition being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
(3) (i) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business or in connection with cash management activities, (ii) a disposition of inventory or equipment in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) dispositions of obsolete, damaged, worn out or surplus assets, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(4) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to this Indenture;
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(5) for purposes of Section 4.16 only, the making of a Permitted Investment (other than a Permitted Investment to the extent such transaction results in the receipt of cash or Cash Equivalents by the Company or its Subsidiaries (but excluding any securities, notes or other obligations that are subsequently converted into cash)) or a disposition that is permitted pursuant to Section 4.08;
(6) the creation of a Permitted Lien and dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;
(7) sales, discounts, adjustments or forgiveness of accounts receivable and other contract claims in the ordinary course of business or in connection with collection or compromise thereof and sales of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and not in connection with any financing transaction;
(8) (i) an issuance of Capital Stock by a Subsidiary to the Company or to a wholly owned Subsidiary, and (ii) the issuance by a Subsidiary of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock that is expressly permitted by Section 4.09;
(9) (i) the non-exclusive licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles and licenses, leases or subleases of other property, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and (ii) the abandonment or allowance to lapse of intellectual property which, in the case of this clause (ii), in the good faith determination of the Company is not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(10) dispositions of assets subject to any casualty or condemnation proceeding (including in lieu thereof);
(11) any surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of any contract, tort or other litigation claims;
(12) dispositions of machinery, equipment or other fixed assets to the extent that (i) such assets are exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement assets that are purchased within 180 days, (ii) such assets are exchanged within 180 days for machinery, equipment or other fixed assets having a Fair Market Value equal to or greater than the assets being traded in or (iii) the proceeds of such disposition are applied to the purchase price of replacement assets within 180 days;
(13) [reserved];
(14) sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of intellectual property, inventory and related assets pertaining to the Michele Brand;
(15) [reserved];
(16) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of real property granted in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Subsidiary to third Persons not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(17) the disposition of any Hedging Obligation in the ordinary course of business;
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(18) dispositions in the ordinary course of business of tangible property as a part of a like kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Code; and
(19) any other Asset Disposition that is permitted under the terms of the First-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Credit Agreement, or in each case, any replacement thereof.
For the avoidance of doubt, disposition of assets, including by means of a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or similar transaction, by the Company or any Guarantor to a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, shall not be excluded from the definition of “Asset Disposition” unless made for bona fide business purposes and not in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness.
“Authorized Representative” means in the case of (i) the ABL Facility or the holders of Obligations thereunder, initially, the ABL Facility Administrative Agent, (ii) the 2026 Notes or the holders thereof, the 2026 Notes Trustee, (iii) the Notes or the Holders thereof, the Trustee, (iv) the First-Out Notes or the holders thereof, the First-Out Notes Trustee and (v) in the case of any series of additional Secured Indebtedness or the holders thereof that become subject to any Intercreditor Agreement, the Authorized Representative named for such series in the applicable joinder agreement.
“Availability” shall have the meaning and be calculated as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date of the Registration Statement).
“Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) from the date of determination to the date of such payment; by
(2) the sum of the amounts of all such payments.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.
“Bankruptcy Laws” means each of the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the Winding-Up and Restructuring Act (Canada), the United Kingdom’s Insolvency Act 1986, the EU Regulation 2015/848 on insolvency proceedings (recast), the United Kingdom’s Companies Act 2006, the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung) and the Swiss Federal Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Act (Bundesgesetz uber Schuldbetreibung und Konkurs (SchKG)), each as now and hereafter in effect, any successors to such statutes and any other applicable insolvency or other similar law of any jurisdiction, including any corporate law of any jurisdiction permitting a debtor to obtain a stay or a compromise of the claims of its creditors against it and including any rules and regulations pursuant thereto.
“beneficialownership” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, and “beneficial owner” has a corresponding meaning.
“Board of Directors” means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the Board of Directors of the corporation or (other than for purposes of determining Change of Control) any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors ;
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(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership; and
(3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.
“Borrowing Base Overage” means when advances permitted under the Borrowing Base (including components and subcomponents thereof) and advance rates, in each case as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement (as of the date of the Registration Statement) exceed the amount that would have been permitted under the Borrowing Base advance rates as of the date of the Registration Statement (without giving effect to any future step-downs in IP Caps or IP Advance Rates, in each case, as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement as of the date of the Registration Statement). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate of the occurrence, and any subsequent conclusion, of any Borrowing Base Overage.
“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions or trust companies in New York, New York or the jurisdiction of the place of payment are authorized or required by law to close.
“Canadian Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is a Canadian Subsidiary.
“Canadian Security Agreements” means, collectively, that certain Canadian Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Canadian Guarantor and the Notes Collateral Agent, and, as the context requires, any other pledge or security agreement entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any other Canadian Guarantor (as required by this Indenture or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Canadian Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that has been formed or is organized under the laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof.
“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases or financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Indenture, the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock and limited liability or partnership interests (whether general or limited), but excluding any debt securities convertible or exchangeable into such equity.
“Cash Equivalents” means:
(1) U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, Swiss Francs, Pounds Sterling, Japanese Yen, Euros or any national currency of any participating member state of the EMU or, in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, such other local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;
(2) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States Government, the Government of Canada, the UK government, the French government or the
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Hong Kong government or issued by an agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, the Government of Canada, the UK government, the French government or the Hong Kong government, as the case may be, in each case maturing within two years after the date of acquisition thereof;
(3) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America, or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof, by the Canadian federal government, by the UK government, by the French government or by the Hong Kong government, in each case, maturing within two years after the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, then from such other nationally recognized rating agency);
(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, overnight bank deposits or bankers’ acceptances issued by any commercial bank having a combined capital and surplus in excess of $250.0 million, in the case of U.S. banks, and $100.0 million, in the case of non-U.S. banks;
(5) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;
(6) bonds with an Investment Grade Rating and Preferred Stock issued by Persons with an Investment Grade Rating, including municipal bonds, corporate bonds and treasury bonds;
(7) (i) commercial paper issued by any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above or by the parent company of any such bank, (ii) commercial paper with a short-term commercial paper rating of at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc. or “P-2” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized Rating Agency, if both of the two named Rating Agencies cease publishing ratings of investments, and (iii) marketable short-term money market and similar funds having the equivalent of an Investment Grade Rating ;
(8) interests in any money market fund substantially all of the assets of which are comprised of instruments of the type specified in clauses (1) through (7) above;
(9) other securities and financial instruments which offer a security comparable to the instruments specified in clauses (1) through (8) above; and
(10) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (1) through (9) above of foreign obligors, which investments or obligors have the ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies.
“CFC” means each Person that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.
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“CFC Holdco” means a Domestic Subsidiary with no material assets other than equity interests of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.
“Change ofControl” means:
(1) any “person” or “group” of related persons (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that such person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent entities (or their successors by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of their assets);
(2) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company or the merger or amalgamation of any Person with or into a Subsidiary of the Company, unless the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, immediately prior to such transaction, hold securities of the surviving, continuing or transferee Person that represent, immediately after such transaction, at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving or transferee Person;
(3) the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition (other than by way of merger, amalgamation or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act); or
(4) the adoption by the shareholders of the Company or any direct or indirect parent entity of the Company of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this definition or any provision of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, (i) a Person or group shall not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock (x) to be acquired by such Person or group pursuant 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 or (y) solely as a result of veto or approval rights in any joint venture agreement, shareholder agreement, investor rights agreement or other similar agreement, (ii) a Person or group will not be deemed to beneficially own Voting Stock of another Person as a result of its ownership of Capital Stock or other securities of such other Person’s parent (or related contractual rights) unless it owns more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such Person’s parent and (iii) the right to acquire Voting Stock (so long as such Person does not have the right to direct the voting of the Voting Stock subject to such right) or any veto power in connection with the acquisition or disposition of Voting Stock will not cause a party to be a beneficial owner.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral” means, collectively, all of the assets and property (including Capital Stock) and interests therein and proceeds thereof, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Excluded Property, in or upon which a Lien is granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as security for the
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Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and any related Obligations including any Parallel Debt.
“Collateral Access Agreement” means an agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Notes Collateral Agent executed by a lessor, bailee, warehouseman or other Person in possession of Collateral, or any lessor (and any mortgagee, if applicable) of real estate leased by any Note Party.
“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, the requirement that:
(a) the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received from the Company and each Subsidiary that is a Designated Subsidiary, either (i) in the case of any Person that is a Designated Subsidiary on the Issue Date, (A) in the case of the Company and each such Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement and the U.S. Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (B) in the case of each such Subsidiary that is a Canadian Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, and the applicable Canadian Security Agreements, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (C) [reserved], (D) in the case of each such Subsidiary that is a German Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement and the applicable German Security Agreements and, with respect to its Concentration Accounts and/or Collection Accounts (in each case, as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) in England and Wales (if any), the applicable UK Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (E) in the case of each Dutch Guarantor, the applicable Dutch Security Agreements, (F) in the case of each such Subsidiary that is a Swiss Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, the applicable Swiss Security Agreements, and the applicable German Security Agreements with respect to its Inventory (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) located in Germany, or (G) in the case of each UK Guarantor and each such Subsidiary that is a UK Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Indenture, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement and the applicable UK Security Agreements, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, or (ii) in the case of any Person that becomes a Designated Subsidiary after the Issue Date, (A) a counterpart of the applicable supplemental indenture hereto duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (B) instruments in the form or forms specified in the applicable Security Agreement under which such Person becomes a party to the applicable Security Agreement (or, if applicable, new Collateral Documents), duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, together with such documents and opinions with respect to such Designated Subsidiary as may reasonably be requested by the Notes Collateral Agent and (C) all documentation and other information requested by the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent regarding such Designated Subsidiary as may be required to comply with the applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act;
(b) subject to Section 4.18, the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received all such Collateral Access Agreements, Control Agreements and other Collateral Documents required to be provided to it hereunder or under the applicable Security Agreement, duly executed by the parties thereto;
(c) all Capital Stock of each Note Party (other than the Company), which Capital Stock shall be held directly by another Note Party, and all Capital Stock owned by or on behalf of any Note Party shall have been pledged pursuant to the applicable Security Agreement or, solely with respect to the Capital Stock of any Note Party (other than the Capital Stock of a Canadian Guarantor owned by the Company or a Domestic Guarantor), a pledge agreement governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Note Party is organized and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent and, in the case of Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in any CFC or CFC Holdco, in each case, that is an Excluded Subsidiary, owned directly by the Company or a Domestic Guarantor, the Company or such Domestic Guarantor’s pledge of Capital Stock entitled to vote in any such CFC or CFC Holdco to secure the Obligations in respect of the Notes shall be limited to 65%
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of such voting Capital Stock (and 100% of non-voting Capital Stock), and the Notes Collateral Agent shall, to the extent required by the applicable Collateral Document, have received certificates or other instruments representing all such certificated Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;
(d) all Indebtedness of the Company and any Subsidiary that is owing to any Note Party and in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or more and all Indebtedness of any other Person in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or more shall be evidenced by a promissory note and shall have been pledged pursuant to the applicable Security Agreement, and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank; and
(e) all documents and instruments, including UCC financing statement and PPSA registrations, required by the Collateral Documents or this Indenture with the priority required by the Collateral Documents shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Notes Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and the provisions of Section 4.11, any Designated Subsidiary formed or acquired after the Issue Date shall not be required to comply with the foregoing requirements prior to the time specified in Section 4.11. The foregoing definition and the provisions of Section 4.11 shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or, subject to the requirements of applicable law, flood insurance, legal opinions, appraisals, surveys or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets of the Note Parties, or the provision of Guarantees by any Subsidiary, if and for so long as the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent determines that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets, or obtaining such title insurance or flood insurance, legal opinions, appraisals, surveys or other deliverables in respect of such assets, or providing such Guarantees, shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders therefrom pursuant to analogous provisions of the First-Out Notes Indenture. Any extensions of time granted by the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to analogous provisions of the First-Out Notes Indenture for the creation and perfection of security interests in (including delivery of promissory notes as required by clause (d) above) or the obtaining of title insurance or, subject to the requirements of applicable law, flood insurance, legal opinions, appraisals, surveys or other deliverables with respect to particular assets or the provision of any Guarantee by any Subsidiary (including extensions beyond the Issue Date or in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Issue Date) shall also apply to this Indenture.
“Collateral Designation” means, solely to the extent that the Notes Obligations (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) remain outstanding and the ABL Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, the occurrence of the following: (a) the valid exercise of the Collateral Designation Option (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) by the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent (or to the extent there is no First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, then by the Notes Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes)) on behalf of the participating Secured Parties pursuant to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or (b) the Company’s election, by written notice to the ABL Facility Administrative Agent and the Notes Collateral Agent, to designate the Specified Collateral as Notes Priority Collateral instead of ABL Priority Collateral.
“Collateral Designation Conditions” means: (a) with respect to a Collateral Designation described in clause (a) of the definition thereof, the requirements to effect a Collateral Designation Date by the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement (it is understood and agreed by the Company and each Guarantor that upon any effective consummation of a Collateral Designation by the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, (x) all Eligible Intellectual Property shall be removed from the Borrowing Base (as each such term is defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and (y) the lower advance rates applicable following the Collateral Designation Date shall be effective, in each case, without any further action or
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consent of the Company or any Guarantor or any other Person); or (b) with respect to a Collateral Designation described in clause (b) of the definition thereof, each of the following requirements: (i) the Company shall repay the amount of the IP Advance (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) then outstanding, (ii) the Company shall deliver to the ABL Facility Administrative Agent an updated borrowing base certificate, giving pro forma effect to such Collateral Designation (including (x) the removal of all Eligible Intellectual Property, and (y) the lower advance rates applicable following the Collateral Designation Date), demonstrating pro forma compliance with the financial covenant in the ABL Credit Agreement, and (iii) the Payment Conditions (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) shall be satisfied with respect to such Collateral Designation and any related transactions in connection therewith.
“Collateral Designation Date” means, with respect to any Collateral Designation, the date that such Collateral Designation is consummated, provided that the Collateral Designation Conditions applicable thereto are satisfied on such date.
“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the security agreements, pledge agreements, deeds of hypothec, agency agreements, Mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral assignments, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, debentures, and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by the Company or any Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture or any of the foregoing (including, without limitation, the financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant state), as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and pursuant to which Collateral is pledged, assigned or granted to or on behalf of the Notes Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes and the Trustee or perfected or notice of such pledge, assignment or grant is given.
“Common Stock” means with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or nonvoting) of such Person’s common stock, whether or not outstanding on the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.
“Company” means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor obligor to its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Article 5.
“Consolidated Cash InterestExpense” means, for any period, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) the cash interest expense (including (x) imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (y) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and (z) net costs under Swap Agreements entered into to hedge interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) of the Company and the Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any interest accrued during such period in respect of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary that is required to be capitalized rather than included in consolidated interest expense for such period in accordance with GAAP, plus (iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of obligations referred to in clause (b)(iii) below that were amortized or accrued in a previous period, minus (b) the sum of (i) interest income of the Company and the Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to amortization or write-off of capitalized interest or other financing costs paid in a previous period, plus (iii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to accretion or amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable in kind for such period.
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“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP:
(1) Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus
(2) the sum of the following, without duplication, to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:
(a) income and franchise tax expense during such period,
(b) interest expense (including, without limitation, interest expense attributable to Capital Leases Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations and all net payment obligations pursuant to interest Swap Obligations),
(c) amortization, depreciation and other non-cash charges for such period (except to the extent that such non-cash charges are reserved for cash charges to be taken in the future),
(d) the amount of premium payments paid by the Company or its Subsidiaries, and charges in respect of unamortized fees and expenses, in each case associated with the repayment of Indebtedness,
(e) expenses relating to stock-based compensation plans resulting from the application of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123R, and
(f) one-time restructuring charges and reserves; provided that the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (vi) (including in respect of the restructuring work performed by Alvarez & Marsal by their Consumer and Retail Group, but excluding one-time restructuring charges and reserves to the extent Incurred on or before December 31, 2025 in connection with the consummation of the Transactions or effectiveness of this Agreement) for any period (x) ending on or prior to January 31, 2027 shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (prior to giving effect to any add-back pursuant to this clause (vi)) and (y) ending after January 31, 2027, shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (prior to giving effect to any add-back pursuant to this clause (vi)), minus
(3) interest income for such period*, minus*
(4) one-time income or gains for such period.
“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (a) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period, (b) cash principal payments on Indebtedness made or required to be made during such period, (c) expense for income taxes paid or required to be paid in cash during such period and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash during such period pursuant to Section 4.08(b)(viii) and Section 4.08(b)(x) hereof and Section 6.08(a)(vii) of the ABL Credit Agreement.
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (i) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and the Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, in the amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but without giving effect to any election to value any Indebtedness at “fair value,” or any other accounting principle that results in the amount of any such Indebtedness (other than zero coupon Indebtedness) as
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reflected on such balance sheet to be below the stated principal amount of such Indebtedness), (b) the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, determined on a consolidated basis, and (c) the aggregate obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries as an account party in respect of drawn letters of credit or letters of guaranty, other than contingent obligations in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty to the extent such letter of credit or letter of guaranty does not support Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of twelve consecutive Fiscal Months of the Company most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.06.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP; provided that, in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Subsidiaries for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the net income (or loss) of any Person (other than the Company) that is not a Subsidiary except to the extent such net income is actually paid in cash to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by dividend or other distribution during such period, (b) the net income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except to the extent included pursuant to the foregoing clause (a), and (c) the net income (if positive), of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of such net income (i) is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary or (ii) would be subject to any taxes payable on such dividends or distributions.
“Control Agreement” means, with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account of a Note Party, (a) a “springing” control agreement, executed and delivered by such Note Party, the ABL Collateral Agent, the applicable securities intermediary (with respect to a Securities Account) or bank (with respect to a Deposit Account) and the Notes Collateral Agent or (b) for such accounts not located in the United States, an analogous document used for equivalent purposes under comparable law of such jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, a security notice), in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent (it being agreed that any obligation of the Notes Collateral Agent, in its individual or corporate capacity, to indemnify a party to a Control Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory), and, with respect to Deposit Accounts under German law, (x) any agreement to be entered into between the Company or applicable Subsidiary as account holder, the ABL Collateral Agent and the respective account bank and the Notes Collateral Agent, or (y) a notice of pledge to be served on the respective account bank and the corresponding acknowledgement, granting sole disposal rights in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent, in each case reasonably acceptable to the Notes Collateral Agent.
“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 13.02 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders and the Company.
“Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, including, without limitation, the ABL Credit Agreement, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.
“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
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“Debt Facility” means one or more debt facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, 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 or issuances of debt securities evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or similar instruments, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities) in whole or in part from time to time (and whether or not with the original administrative agent, lenders or trustee or another administrative agent or agents, other lenders or trustee of such Debt Facility).
“Default” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time, or both, would be, an Event of Default.
“Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note or Additional Note (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.
“Deposit Account” means each checking, savings or other demand deposit account maintained by any Note Party.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.04 as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.
“Designated Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary other than any Excluded Subsidiary.
“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, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, or requires the payment of any cash dividend or any other scheduled payment constituting a return of capital (other than any payment solely in Capital Stock (other than any Capital Stock referred to in this clause (a)), in each case at any time on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Stated Maturity of the Notes, or (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) cash, (ii) debt securities or (iii) any Capital Stock referred to in (a) above, in each case at any time prior to the date that is 91 days after the Stated Maturity of the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the issuer of such Capital Stock to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the issuer may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption is permitted under the terms of this Indenture.
“Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.
“Domestic Guarantor” means any Guarantor other than a Foreign Guarantor.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Foreign Subsidiary.
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“Domination Agreement” means a domination agreement (Beherrschungvertrag) within the meaning of Sec 291(1) of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) among the Company (or any of its direct or indirect Wholly Owned Subsidiaries) and the other parties thereto.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.
“Dutch Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is a Dutch Subsidiary.
“Dutch Security Agreements” means, collectively, any Dutch law pledge or security agreement entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any Note Party (as required by this Indenture or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Dutch Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the Netherlands.
“EMU” means the European Economic and Monetary Union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.
“EMULegislation” means the legislative measures of the European Union for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the Euro in one or more member states of the European Union.
“Euro” means the single currency unit of the member states of the European Union that have the euro as their lawful currency in accordance with the EMU Legislation.
“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.Y., as operator of Euroclear systems Clearance System or any successor securities clearing agency.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Account” means all (i) Deposit Accounts, securities accounts, futures accounts and commodity accounts (a) maintained solely as payroll or other employee wage and benefit accounts (including withholding tax payments related thereto), (b) maintained solely as sales tax accounts, (c) maintained (A) solely as escrow accounts or fiduciary or trust accounts, in each case, for the benefit of third parties, other than the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates and accounts otherwise held exclusively for the benefit of third parties, other than the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates or (B) solely to hold restricted cash as supporting obligations for guarantees permitted under this Indenture, (d) that contain solely deposits permitted by clauses (c) and (d) of the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances” in the ABL Credit Agreement, if the documents governing such deposits prohibit the granting of a lien on such deposits, (e) that are maintained solely as store accounts maintained for local deposits; provided that the entire balance (other than a nominal amount to cover fees and charges) of all such accounts is swept on the Friday of each week (or if Friday is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) into one or more Deposit Accounts that are not Excluded Accounts and that are subject to a Control Agreement (it being understood that no Concentration Account or Collection Account (each as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) will be an Excluded Account as a result of this clause (e)) and (f) the entire balance of which is swept on each Business Day into one or more Deposit Accounts that are not Excluded Accounts and that are subject to a Control Agreement (it being understood that no Concentration Account or Collection Account will be an Excluded Account as a result of this clause (f)), and (ii) other Deposit Accounts, securities accounts, futures accounts or commodities accounts with an aggregate closing daily balance not in excess of $4,000,000 in the aggregate for all such Deposit Accounts, securities accounts, futures accounts or commodities accounts excluded
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pursuant to this clause (ii); provided that no Concentration Account, Collection Account, Deposit Account included in the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program nor the Company’s Funding Account (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) (regardless of the amount on deposit at any time in such account) shall be an Excluded Account.
“Excluded Property” means:
(1) (x) any fee-owned real property that is (i) located outside the United States, (ii) excluded to the extent that security interests over such assets would result in material adverse tax treatment, or (iii) not Material Real Property and (y) all leasehold interests in real property (it being understood that there shall be no requirement to obtain leasehold mortgages/deeds of trusts, landlord waivers, estoppels, collateral access letters or similar third-party agreements or consents);
(2) motor vehicles, aircrafts, vessels and other goods subject to certificates of title (in each case except to the extent perfection can be accomplished through the filing of UCC-1 financing statements);
(3) letter of credit rights with a value of less than $500,000 (except to the extent (x) perfection can be accomplished through the filing of UCC-1 financing statements or (y) the Notes Collateral Agent has obtained control over such letter of credit rights or has possession of the applicable letter of credit in accordance with this Indenture) and Commercial Tort Claims with a value of less than $750,000;
(4) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation (including the requirement to obtain consent of any governmental authority) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction;
(5) [reserved];
(6) Capital Stock in any Person other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries to the extent not permitted by the terms of such Person’s organizational or joint venture documents (for so long as such Person remains a non-wholly owned Subsidiary);
(7) any lease, permit, license (including Licenses (as defined in the ABL Security Documents)) or other agreement or any property subject to a purchase money security interest or similar arrangement permitted by this Indenture to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate, invalidate, be prohibited or restricted or constitute a default under such lease, permit, license (including Licenses (as defined in the ABL Security Documents)) or agreement or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of, or require the consent of, any other party thereto (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code or the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction notwithstanding such prohibition; provided that, in the case of any Licenses (as defined in the ABL Security Documents), the foregoing shall only apply to Licenses (as defined in the ABL Security Documents) granted by unaffiliated third parties to the Company or any Guarantor;
(8) “intent-to-use” trademark or service mark applications prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto;
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(9) any governmental licenses or state, provincial, territorial or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations are prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction;
(10) any property subject to a Lien existing at the time such property was acquired that is permitted by Section 4.10 of this Indenture to the extent and for so long as such contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted prohibits a security interest or pledge on such property, after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction; and
(11) any Excluded Accounts (other than the Deposit Accounts, securities accounts or commodities accounts referenced in clause (i)(e), (i)(f) or clause (ii) of the definition of “Excluded Accounts” (but excluding, in the case of such clause (ii), Deposit Accounts and securities accounts that participate in the Intercompany Cash Pool));
provided, however, that Excluded Property shall not include any property that is pledged to secure obligations arising in respect of the ABL Facility or the First-Out Notes Indenture (whether pursuant to the terms at such time of the foregoing or any related documents).
“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company on the Issue Date or on the date such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, in each case for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-wholly owned Subsidiary, (b) any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company (subject to the immediately following sentence), (c) [reserved], (d) any CFC Holdco, (e) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable law from providing a Guarantee of the applicable Obligations or if such Guarantee would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization, unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (f) any Subsidiary that is a not-for-profit organization, (g) any Subsidiary that is an Immaterial Subsidiary (unless, solely in the case of a Subsidiary organized in the same jurisdiction as an existing Guarantor, the Company otherwise elects), and (h) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Company, the cost or other consequences of becoming a Guarantor shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Holders therefrom; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, all Excluded Subsidiaries as of the date hereof are: Fossil (UK) Global Services LTD, Fossil Global Services India LLP, Fossil Holding, LLC, Fossil International Holdings, Inc., Fossil Services, LLC, Fossil (Gibraltar) Ltd., Katchin, Inc., Fossil Japan, Inc., Katchin GmbH, Fossil Mexico Sa de CV, Servicios Fossil Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Fossil (East) Ltd., Fossil Luxembourg Sarl, Montres Antima SA, Swiss Technology Production SA, Swiss Technology Components AG, Fossil India Private Ltd., Fossil Singapore Pte., Fossil Industries Ltd., Fossil Asia Pacific Ltd., Pulse Time Center Company, Ltd., Pulse Time Center (Shenzhen) Co., Fossil Korea Ltd., Fossil Time Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Fossil Commercial (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Fossil Trading Shanghai Company Ltd., Fossil Commercial (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., FDT, Ltd., Fossil (Australia) Pty., Fossil Hong Kong Ltd., Fossil Vietnam, Fossil New Zealand Limited, Fossil (Macau) Limited, Fossil Shares Services GmbH, Fossil Stores Belgium BVBA, Fossil Belgium BVBA, Fossil (Austria) GmbH, Fossil S.L.U., FESCO GmbH, Fossil Italia, S.r.l., Fossil Sweden AB, In Time Distribuicao de Relogios, Sociedad Unipessoal, Lda., Fossil Stores S.r.l., Fossil Denmark A/S, Fossil Norway AS, Fossil France S.A.S., Fossil Stores France, Fast Europe SARL, Latin America Services, Ltd, Fossil Accessories South Africa Pty. Ltd. and Fossil Poland Spolkaz Ograniczona. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) no Subsidiary of the Company that Guarantees the 2026 Notes (other than Fossil (UK) Global Services Ltd), the Second-Out Notes, the ABL Credit Agreement or any other Material Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary and (y) no Subsidiary of the Company that owns or licenses (other than non-exclusive licenses from the Company or another Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business) any Material Intellectual Property shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary.
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“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined by the Company in good faith (including as to the value of all non-cash assets and liabilities) ; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, in making such determination the Company shall be entitled to consider and include in making any such determination the results of customary discounts, commissions or other similar discounts or payments pursuant to a private placement or public offering of securities.
“First-Out Notes” means the Company’s 9.500% First-Out First Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029.
“First-Out Notes Collateral Agent” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent under the First-Out Notes Indenture.
“First-Out Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Guarantors, the First-Out Notes Trustee and the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent.
“First-Out Notes Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as trustee under the First-Out Notes Indenture.
“First-Out/Second-Out IntercreditorAgreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, to be dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, the First-Out Notes Trustee, First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, each additional agent from time to time party thereto, and the grantors from time to time party thereto, as may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time.
“Fiscal Month” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the approximately one-month period ending around the end of each month or such other applicable period, as determined from time to time by the Company in the ordinary course of its business, as the context may require, or, if any such Subsidiary was not in existence on the first day of any such period, the period commencing on the date on which such Subsidiary is incorporated, organized, formed or otherwise created and ending on the last day of such period.
“Fiscal Year” means the fifty–two (52) or fifty-three (53) week period beginning on the date which is one day after the end of the similar preceding period and ending on the Saturday closest to December 31st.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such periodminus (ii) Unfinanced Capital Expenditures for such periodminus (iii) such portion of principal payments on Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations made by the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries during such period as is attributable to additions to property, plant and equipment that have not otherwise been reflected on the consolidated statement of cash flows as additions to property, plant and equipment for such period to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.
“Foreign Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is not organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“ForeignSubsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
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“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect and applicable to the accounting period in respect of which reference to GAAP is made and applied in accordance with the consistency requirements thereof.
“German GmbH Guarantor” means any German Guarantor organized as a limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) under the laws of Germany.
“GermanGmbH & Co. KG Guarantor” means any German Guarantor organized as a limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft) under the laws of Germany.
“German Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is a German Subsidiary.
“German Security Agreements” means, collectively, any German law pledge or security agreement entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any Note Party (as required by this Indenture or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“German Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that has been formed or is organized under the laws of Germany.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether provincial, territorial, state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national body exercising such powers or functions, such as the European Union, the Council of Ministers of the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Government Securities” means securities that are (1) direct obligations of the United States for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“Guarantee” means (1) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and (2) any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person :
(1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise); or
(2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in
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whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
“Guarantor” means each Subsidiary in existence on the Issue Date that provides a Note Guarantee on the Issue Date (and any other Subsidiary that provides a Note Guarantee after the Issue Date); provided that upon release or discharge of such Subsidiary from its Note Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Subsidiary ceases to be a Guarantor.
“Guarantor Release Protection Provisions” mean (a) each of the provisions under (i) Article 10, (ii) Section 4.11 and (iii) Section 5.01, and (b) the Event of Default described in clause (9) under the definition of “Event of Default.”
“Guarantor Subordinated Obligation” means, with respect to a Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee.
“Hedging Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Swap Agreement transaction.
“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor) that, as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Month of the Company for which financial statements have theretofore been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 4.06, either individually or together with its Subsidiaries, accounted for less than (x) 5.0% of Total Assets at such date and (y) less than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the most recent twelve Fiscal Month period ending on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been delivered to the Trustee under Section 4.06; provided that, notwithstanding the above, “Immaterial Subsidiary” shall exclude any of the Company’s Subsidiaries designated in writing to the Trustee, by an Officer of the Company to the extent necessary to ensure that Immaterial Subsidiaries and their respective Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, accounted for, at the last day of any Fiscal Month of the Company for which financial statements have theretofore been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 4.06, less than 5.0% of Total Assets at such date and less than 5.0% of consolidated revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the twelve Fiscal Month period ending on such date for which financial statements have been delivered to the Trustee under Section 4.06.
“Incur” means issue, create, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be Incurred by such Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary; and the terms ”Incurred,” “Incurring” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person (excluding trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding (i) current accounts payable
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incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred compensation payable to directors, officers or employees of the Company or any Subsidiary and (iii) any purchase price adjustment or earnout incurred in connection with an acquisition), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (g) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (h) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed by such Person (but only to the extent of the lesser of (x) the amount of such Indebtedness and (y) the fair market value of such property, if such Indebtedness has not been assumed by such Person), and (i) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not include trade payables (including any obligation owed by a Person arising out of arrangements whereby a third party makes payments for the account of such Person directly or indirectly to a trade creditor of such Person in respect of trade payables of such Person) and related accrued expenses, and related obligations owed to such third party purchaser, incurred by any Person in accordance with customary practices and in the ordinary course of business of such Person. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other Person (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor by contract, as a matter of law or otherwise as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such other Person, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall (i) be the accreted value thereof in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount or the aggregate principal amount outstanding in the case of Indebtedness issued with interest payable in kind and (ii) include any interest (or in the case of Preferred Stock, dividends) thereon that is more than 30 days past due. Except to the extent provided in the preceding sentence, the amount of any Indebtedness that is convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of the Company outstanding as of any date shall be deemed to be equal to the principal and premium, if any, in respect of such Indebtedness, notwithstanding the provisions of GAAP (including Accounting Standards Codification Topic 470-20, Debt-Debt with Conversion and Other Options).
“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in Similar Businesses of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.
“Initial Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Intercompany Cash Pooling Program” means the physical cash pooling in-house banking program described to the ABL Facility Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof, pursuant to which Fossil Europe BV serves as the cash pool master (or in-house bank) for the Company and its applicable Subsidiaries.
“Intercompany Subordination Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Intercompany Subordination Agreement dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries party thereto, the ABL Facility Administrative Agent, the Notes Collateral Agent and the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
“Intercreditor Agreements” means, collectively, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the First-Out/Second-Out Intercreditor Agreement, and any other applicable intercreditor agreement in a form
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substantially similar to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or First-Out/Second-Out Intercreditor Agreement, as the case may be.
“Interest Payment Date” means March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year commencing with March 15, 2026 to the Stated Maturity of the Notes.
“InterestPeriod” means, with respect to any Note, the period commencing on and including an Interest Payment Date and ending on and including the day immediately preceding the next Interest Payment Date, with the exception that the first Interest Period with respect to any Note shall commence on and include the issue date of the applicable Notes and end on and exclude the first Interest Payment Date to occur after the issue date of the applicable Notes (the Interest Payment Date for any Interest Period shall be the interest payment date occurring on the date immediately following the last day of such Interest Period).
“Investment” means, with respect to a specified Person, any Capital Stock, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, or any capital contribution or loans or advances (other than advances made in the ordinary course of business that would be recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP) to, Guarantees of any Indebtedness or other obligations of, or any other investment (including any investment in the form of transfer of property for consideration that is less than the fair value thereof (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company)) in, any other Person that are held or made by the specified Person. The amount, as of any date of determination, of (a) any Investment in the form of a loan or an advance shall be the principal amount thereof outstanding on such date, without any adjustment for write-downs or write-offs (including as a result of forgiveness of any portion thereof) with respect to such loan or advance after the date thereof, (b) any Investment in the form of a Guarantee shall be determined in accordance with the definition of the term “Guarantee”, (c) any Investment in the form of a purchase or other acquisition for value of any Capital Stock, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any Person shall be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company) of the consideration therefor (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith), plus the fair value (as so determined) of all additions, as of such date of determination, thereto, and minus the amount, as of such date of determination, of any portion of such Investment repaid to the investor in cash as a repayment of principal or a return of capital, as the case may be, but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the time of such Investment, (d) any Investment (other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) above) in the form of a transfer of Capital Stock or other property by the investor to the investee, including any such transfer in the form of a capital contribution, shall be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company) of such Capital Stock or other property as of the time of such transfer (less, in the case of any investment in the form of transfer of property for consideration that is less than the fair value thereof, the fair value (as so determined) of such consideration as of the time of the transfer), minus the amount, as of such date of determination, of any portion of such Investment repaid to the investor in cash as a return of capital, but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the time of such transfer, and (e) any Investment (other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above) in any Person resulting from the issuance by such Person of its Capital Stock to the investor shall be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company) of such Capital Stock at the time of the issuance thereof.
For purposes of Section 4.08:
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(1) any property transferred to or from a Subsidiary will be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer; and
(2) if the Company or any Subsidiary sells or otherwise disposes of any Voting Stock of any Subsidiary such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such entity is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or any other equivalent rating by any Rating Agency, in each case, with a stable or better outlook.
“Issue Date” means November 13, 2025.
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, assignment by way of security, security interest or other encumbrance in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
“Line Cap” shall have the meaning and be calculated as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the results of operations, assets, business or financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Company and the Guarantors to perform any of their monetary obligations under the Notes, this Indenture, the Security Agreements or any Intercreditor Agreement to which it is a party, or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or Holders under the Notes, this Indenture, the Security Agreements or any applicable Intercreditor Agreement.
“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than letters of credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Obligations, of any one or more of the Company and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $15,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Obligation at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Company or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Obligation were terminated at such time.
“Material Intellectual Property” means intellectual property that is (i) material to the conduct of business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) necessary or material to permit the Notes Collateral Agent to enforce its rights and remedies under this Indenture or the Collateral Documents with respect to the Collateral, or the disposition of which would otherwise adversely affect the Net Orderly Liquidation Value Percentage (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) of any Collateral.
“Material Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee by the Company or any Guarantor having a Fair Market Value at the time in excess of $2,500,000.
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“Michele Brand” means all right, title, and interest in and to (i) all inventory and all molds for manufacturing finished goods; (ii) marketing assets; (iii) records; (iv) unfulfilled purchase orders, including, without limitation, the right to bill and receive payment for products subject to such unfulfilled purchase orders; (v) all intellectual property; (vi) all rights under transferred contracts; (vii) all goodwill associated with the MICHELE brand and/or the MICHELE assets; (viii) all permits required for the ownership and use of the MICHELE assets, and all pending applications therefor or renewals thereof; (ix) all machinery, equipment and tooling, whether owned or leased; and (x) all currently effective warranties, guaranties, indemnities and similar rights against third parties, if any, solely relating to the MICHELE assets (except to the extent applicable from any sale thereof), in each case used in or for the business of manufacturing, distributing and selling of timepieces under the MICHELE brand and included in an asset purchase agreement, share purchase agreement or similar agreement in connection with the sale of the Company’s MICHELE brand.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. or any successor to its rating agency business.
“Mortgages” means the mortgages, land charges, debentures, deeds of hypothecs, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents in legally sufficient form to secure Liens on the Premises, as well as the other Collateral secured by and described in the mortgages, land charges, debentures, deeds of hypothecs, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents.
“Net Assets” for the purpose of Section 10.02(a) (Limitation on Guarantor Liability relating to any German Guarantor) means a German GmbH Guarantor’s (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) assets pursuant to Section 266 sub-section (2) A, B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch) less the aggregate of its liabilities pursuant to Section 266 sub-section (3) B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code, taking into consideration the generally accepted accounting principles applicable from time to time in Germany (Grundsatze ordnungsmafiigerBuchfuhrung) based on the same principles and evaluation methods as consistently applied by the respective German Guarantor in the preparation of its financial statements.
“Net Cash Proceeds,” with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, underwriters’ or placement agents’ fees, listing fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees and charges actually Incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of such issuance or sale (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).
“Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor.
“Note Documents” means this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (including in each case, any amendments thereto).
“Note Guarantee” means, individually, any Guarantee of payment of the Notes and the Company’s other Obligations under this Indenture by a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Indenture and any supplemental indenture thereto, and, collectively, all such Guarantees.
“Note Party” means the Company or any Guarantor.
“Notes” means the Initial Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. For all purposes of this Indenture, the term “Notes” shall also include any Additional Notes that may be issued under a supplemental indenture and Notes to be issued or authenticated upon transfer, replacement or exchange of Notes.
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“Notes Priority Collateral” means all Collateral other than ABL Priority Collateral (including for the avoidance of doubt, any such assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision in any other Bankruptcy Law, would be ABL Priority Collateral), including, without limitation:
(1) all Equipment, Fixtures, Real Property, intercompany indebtedness between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries or their Affiliates (other than ABL Priority Collateral described in clause (5) of the definition thereof), and all Capital Stock held by the Note Parties and other Investment Property (other than any Investment Property constituting ABL Priority Collateral, including Investment Property described in clause 3(y) of the definition of ABL Priority Collateral);
(2) except to the extent constituting ABL Priority Collateral, all Instruments, Commercial Tort Claims, Documents and General Intangibles;
(3) Notes Priority Accounts; provided, however, that to the extent that identifiable proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral are deposited in any such Split-Lien Priority Accounts, such identifiable proceeds shall be treated as ABL Priority Collateral;
(4) on and after the Collateral Designation Date, Specified Collateral;
(5) all other Collateral, other than the ABL Priority Collateral (including ABL Priority Proceeds); and
(6) all collateral security and guarantees with respect to the foregoing, and all cash, Money, insurance proceeds, receivables, products, substitutions, replacements, Instruments, Securities and Financial Assets received as proceeds of any of the foregoing, but, in any event, excluding the ABL Priority Collateral (including ABL Priority Proceeds).
Any capitalized term used in this definition but not otherwise defined herein shall be defined as set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
“Notes Collateral Agent” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, as notes collateral agent under the Note Documents, until a successor, if any, replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
“Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, provincial, territorial, federal or foreign law), other monetary obligations, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and Guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
“Offer to Purchase” means an Asset Disposition Offer or a Change of Control Offer.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Co-President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Chief Administrative Officer, the Chief Legal Officer, the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors or, if the Company is a partnership or a limited liability company that has no such officers, a person duly authorized
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under applicable law by the general partner, managers, members or a similar body to act on behalf of the Company. Officer of any Guarantor has a correlative meaning.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Officer of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, and delivered to the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable.
“Opinion ofCounsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel (including an employee of or counsel to the Company) who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable.
“Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Obligations under the Notes or the Note Guarantees and is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that has equal Lien priority with respect to the different categories of Collateral under the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement relative to the Notes and the Note Guarantees and is senior in priority to the Liens securing any junior lien priority Indebtedness; provided, that, in each case, an Authorized Representative of such Indebtedness shall have executed a joinder to the applicable Intercreditor Agreements in the form provided therein.
“Perfection Certificate” means that certain perfection certificate dated as of the Issue Date, executed and delivered by each Note Party in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties.
“PermittedAcquisition” means the purchase or other acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of Capital Stock in, or all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of), any Person if (a) in the case of any purchase or other acquisition of Capital Stock in a Person, such Person will be, upon the consummation of such acquisition, a Subsidiary, in each case including as a result of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation between any Subsidiary and such Person, or (b) in the case of any purchase or other acquisition of other assets, such assets will be owned by the Company or a Subsidiary; provided that (i) no Event of Default exists at the date such transaction is consummated, (ii) at the time such transaction is consummated, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction (calculated as of the last day of the Fiscal Month of the Company then most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 4.06), the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed 1.50:1.00, (iii) the Company shall promptly deliver information relating to such Permitted Acquisition as the Notes Collateral Agent may reasonably request, and (iv) any such acquisition or Investment shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap.
“Permitted Investment” means an Investment:
(1) [reserved];
(2) [reserved];
(3) consisting of contributions to and borrowings from the cash pool under the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program among the applicable Subsidiaries (other than the Company and Domestic Guarantors) in the ordinary course of business to fund ordinary course operational needs, including purchasing inventory, paying payroll and funding marketing initiatives; provided that (i) the Company and the Domestic Guarantors shall not participate in the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program, (ii) all amounts owing under the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program shall be subject to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement at all times, (iii) the aggregate balance at any time (to the extent positive) of (x) outstanding amounts contributed by the Company and the
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Guarantors to the cash pool minus (y) outstanding amounts borrowed by the Company and the Guarantors from the cash pool (the “Net Cash Pooling Investment”) shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap, and (iv) if a Dominion Period (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) has occurred and is continuing, the Company and the Guarantors shall not make any contributions to the cash pool;
(4) Investments by the Company and the Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries; provided that (i) such Subsidiaries are Subsidiaries prior to, or have been newly formed with the initial Investment therein being, such Investments and (ii) such Investments shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap;
(5) loans or advances made by the Company to any Subsidiary or made by any Subsidiary to the Company or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the Indebtedness resulting therefrom is permitted by Section 4.09(b)(8) and (ii) such loans and advances shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap;
(6) Guarantees by the Company or any Subsidiary of (i) the Obligations and (ii) Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary other than as specified in the foregoing clause (i) including any such Guarantees arising as a result of any such Person being a joint and several co-applicant with respect to any letter of credit or letter of guaranty; provided that, with respect to the foregoing clause (ii), such Indebtedness shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap;
(7) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in cash or in the form of Investments that do not constitute transfers of Collateral, in an aggregate amount outstanding (as reduced by the amount of capital returned from any such Permitted Investment (exclusive of items reflected in Consolidated Net Income), which reductions may not exceed in aggregate amount the amount originally transferred in connection with any Permitted Investment hereunder), together with all other Investments pursuant to this clause (7), at the time of each such Investment not to exceed $5,000,000.
(8) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in exchange for consideration consisting only of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or Net Cash Proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale of Capital Stock of the Company;
(9) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in receivables owing to the Company or any Subsidiary and extensions of trade credit, deposits, prepayments and other credits to vendors, suppliers, lessors, processors, materialmen, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and landlords made in the ordinary course of business;
(10) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in payroll, commission, travel, entertainment expenses, relocation costs and similar advances to cover matters that are reasonably expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, not to exceed, in the aggregate, $1,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(11) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(12) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of the receipt of settlement of amounts due to the Company or any Subsidiary effected in the ordinary course of business;
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(13) purchases of assets in the ordinary course of business;
(14) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(15) Permitted Acquisitions;
(16) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the funding of contributions under any non-qualified retirement plan or similar employee compensation plan in an amount not to exceed the amount of compensation expense recognized by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with such plans;
(17) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consisting of the licensing, sublicensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons; provided that such licensing, subleasing, or contributions of intellectual property must either be (i) non-exclusive or (ii) exclusive only within the granted territory;
(18) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection, lease, utility, workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business;
(19) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Disposition that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 4.16 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Disposition;
(20) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or replacement of any such Investment or binding commitment existing on the Issue Date but, in each case, only to the extent not involving additional advances, contributions or other Investments or other increases thereof;
(21) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Company or a Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities and not for speculative purposes, which transactions or obligations are Incurred in compliance with Section 4.09;
(22) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of Guarantees issued in accordance with Section 4.09;
(23) Investments constituting (i) pledges and deposits made (A) in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and (B) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (A) above, (ii) pledges and deposits made to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) endorsements of instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;
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(24) Investments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the form of Unfinanced Capital Expenditures;
(25) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of leases or other obligations as permitted under Section 4.09;
(26) the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing or discharging Indebtedness issued pursuant to an indenture, but only if such defeasing or discharging of Indebtedness is not prohibited under this Agreement; provided that such Investment covers proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary solely to defease or discharge the principal, interest, premium, if any, and if required by the terms of the relevant indenture, fees, costs and expenses due in connection with the defeasance of such Indebtedness; and
(27) any other Investment permitted under the terms of the First-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Credit Agreement, or in each case, any replacement thereof.
Unless otherwise specified, for purposes of determining the amount of any Investment outstanding for purposes hereof, such amount shall be deemed to be the amount of such Investment when made, purchased or acquired less any amount realized in respect of such Investment upon the sale, collection or return of capital (not to exceed the original amount invested).
“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:
(1) Liens securing (i) Indebtedness and other obligations permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(4) and (ii) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (and any subsequently Incurred Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any such Refinancing Indebtedness) provided, that the Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (1) may rank senior to the Liens securing the Notes pursuant to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(2) pledges and deposits made (i) in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (i) above;
(3) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law (other than any Lien imposed pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the Code), arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in good faith;
(4) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet delinquent or (i) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) for which the Company or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP and (iii) such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation;
(5) pledges and deposits made to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
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(6) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, site plan agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, cross-easement agreements, reciprocal easement agreements and similar encumbrances and exceptions to title on real property that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any Subsidiary or the ordinary operation of such real property;
(7) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under (i) clause (1) (provided, that such Liens shall be junior to the Liens on the Notes Priority Collateral securing the Notes and shall be subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), (ii) clause (2) (provided, that such Liens shall be subject to the First-Out/Second-Out Intercreditor Agreement), and (iii) clause (11), in each case, of Section 4.09(b);
(8) Liens existing on the Issue Date and other Liens securing Indebtedness Incurred in reliance on Section 4.09(b)(5), subject to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(9) customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks and other depository institutions and Liens of a collecting bank arising under the UCC or PPSA in respect of payment items in the course of collection;
(10) Liens representing any interest or title of a licensor, lessor or sublicensor or sublessor, or a licensee, lessee or sublicensee or sublessee, in the property subject to any lease (other than Capital Lease Obligations), license or sublicense or concession agreement permitted by this Agreement;
(11) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Subsidiary owing to the Company, or of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Subsidiary;
(12) Liens securing Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance, as a whole or in part, Indebtedness that was previously so secured pursuant to clauses (7), (8), (16), (36), (39), (40) and this clause (12) of this definition; provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced; provided, further, that any such Liens shall rank equal to or junior to the Liens securing Indebtedness being refinanced or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture pursuant to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, if applicable, or any other intercreditor agreement that is substantially similar to such Intercreditor Agreements (in the case of any Liens with a junior lien priority, with any ABL Indebtedness and the Notes being treated as senior priority obligations thereunder), as applicable, in all cases subject to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(13) Liens in connection with the sale or transfer of any Capital Stock or other assets in a transaction permitted under Section 4.16 and customary rights and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such sale or transfer pending the completion thereof;
(14) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of real property granted by the Company or any Subsidiary to third Persons not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(15) judgment Liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default;
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(16) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.09(b)(7);
(17) 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;
(18) bankers’ liens upon deposits of funds in favor of banks or other depository institutions (including any right of pledge or right of set-off arising under the general banking conditions of any bank in relation to deposit accounts maintained in the Netherlands), solely to the extent incurred in connection with the maintenance of such deposit accounts in the ordinary course of business;
(19) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary or existing on any asset of any Person that becomes (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition) a Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Subsidiary that is merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into a Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the Issue Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or is so merged, amalgamated or consolidated); provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary (or such merger, amalgamation or consolidation), (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than, in the case of any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, the assets of any special purpose merger Subsidiary that is a party thereto) and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or is so merged, amalgamated or consolidated) and any extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(20) [reserved];
(21) Liens arising from precautionary UCC or PPSA financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases or consignments;
(22) Liens securing (i) Indebtedness and other obligations permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.09(b)(21) and (ii) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof (and any subsequently Incurred Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any such Refinancing Indebtedness) provided, that the Liens incurred pursuant to this clause (22) may rank senior to the Liens securing the Notes pursuant to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(23) [reserved];
(24) any interest or title of an owner of equipment or inventory on loan or consignment, or in connection with any conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangement for the sale of goods to the Company or any Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statement filings related thereto;
(25) [reserved];
(26) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in favor of custom and forwarding agents and similar Persons in respect of imported goods and merchandise in the custody of such Persons;
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(27) the reservations, limitations, provisos and conditions, if any, expressed in any original grant from the Crown in right of Canada or any province thereof of any real property or any interest therein or in any comparable grant in jurisdictions other than Canada, provided they do not materially detract from the value of such property or impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of business;
(28) Liens or rights of setoff against credit balances of the Company or any Subsidiary with credit card issuers, credit card processors or merchant service providers for mobile or digitized payment methods to secure obligations of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, to any such credit card issuer, credit card processor, or merchant service provider incurred in the ordinary course of business as a result of fees, charges, expenses and chargebacks;
(29) (i) contractual or statutory Liens of landlords to the extent relating to the property and assets relating to any lease agreements with such landlord, and (ii) contractual Liens of suppliers (including sellers of goods) or customers granted in the ordinary course of business to the extent limited to the property or assets relating to such contract;
(30) Liens arising from the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing or discharging Indebtedness issued pursuant to an indenture, but only if such defeasing or discharging of Indebtedness is not prohibited under this Agreement; provided that such Lien covers proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary solely to defease or discharge the principal, interest, premium, if any, and, if required by the terms of the relevant indenture, fees, costs and expenses due in connection with the defeasance of such Indebtedness;
(31) Liens arising from real property title defects or irregularities which are of a minor nature and which do not materially detract from the value of the real property or impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of business;
(32) other Liens that are contractual rights of setoff;
(33) in the case of (i) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary or (ii) the Capital Stock in any Person that is not a Subsidiary, any encumbrance or restriction, including any options, put and call arrangements, rights of first refusal and similar rights related to Capital Stock in such Subsidiary or such other Person set forth in the organizational documents of such Subsidiary or such other Person or any related joint venture, shareholders’ or similar agreement;
(34) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits, escrow arrangements or similar arrangements made by the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement for a Permitted Acquisition or other transaction permitted hereunder;
(35) Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 4.09(b)(22);
(36) any Lien on assets of any Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Guarantor) securing Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Guarantor) permitted by Section 4.09(b)(6)(ii) and obligations relating thereto not constituting Indebtedness;
(37) Liens in respect of Prior Claims that are unregistered and secure amounts that are not yet due and payable;
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(38) Liens on amounts deposited to secure obligations in connection with pension liabilities (Altersteilzeitverpflichtungen) pursuant to § 8a German Partial Retirement Act (Altersteilzeitgesetz) or in connection with time credits (Wertguthaben) pursuant to § 7e German Social Code IV (Sozialgesetzbuch IV);
(39) Deposits of cash collateral securing letters of credit permitted under Section 4.09(b)(19);
(40) any other Liens permitted under the terms of the First-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Credit Agreement, or in each case, any replacement thereof; and
(41) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (40) above, Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Liens securing Indebtedness pursuant to this clause (41) at any one time, does not exceed $10,000,000.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario), including the regulations thereto, provided that if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any Lien created hereunder or under any other Note Document on the Collateral is governed by the personal property security legislation or other applicable legislation with respect to personal property security in effect in a jurisdiction in Canada other than the Province of Ontario, “PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act or such other applicable legislation (including the Civil Code (Quebec)) in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction in Canada for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.
“Preferred Stock,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distributions of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.
“PriorClaims” means (a) all liabilities and obligations of any Canadian Guarantor secured by any Liens, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the Liens securing the Obligations, including claims for utilities, taxes (including sales taxes, value added taxes, amounts deducted or withheld or not paid and remitted when due under the Income Tax Act (Canada), as amended, excise taxes, goods and services taxes (“GST”) and harmonized sales taxes (“HST”) payable pursuant to Part IX of theExcise Tax Act (Canada) or similar taxes under provincial or territorial law), the claims of a laborer or worker (whether full-time or part-time) who is owed wages (including any amounts protected by theWage Earner Protection Program Act (Canada) or secured by Section 81.3 or 81.4 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada)), amounts due and not paid for inventory subject to rights of suppliers under Section 81.1 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) or other applicable law (generally known as the “30-day goods rule”), vacation pay, severance pay, employee source deductions, workers’ compensation obligations or pension fund obligations (including claims in respect of, and all amounts currently or past due and not contributed, remitted or paid to, or pursuant to, a Canadian pension plan, any Canadian pension laws and any amounts representing any unfunded liability, solvency deficiency or wind-up deficiency whether or not due with respect to any Canadian pension plan, including “normal cost”, “special payments” and any other payments in respect of any funding deficiency or shortfall); and (b) with respect to any German Guarantor, any reserve for amounts secured by any liens or other security interests
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whatsoever, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the liens granted to secure or for other claims and/or deductions for the Obligations, including without limitation, any such amounts due and not paid for wages, or vacation pay, severance pay, employee deductions, income tax, insolvency costs, amounts due and not paid under any legislation relating to workers’ compensation or to employment insurance amounts currently or past due and not paid for realty, municipal or similar taxes (to the extent impacting personal or movable property), sales tax and pension obligations.
“Rating Agency” means each of S&P and Moody’s, or, if S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Board of Directors) which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s or both, as the case may be.
“Record Date” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means the March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.
“Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is Incurred in exchange or replacement for, or to refund, refinance, replace, exchange, renew, repay, prepay, purchase, redeem, defease, retire or extend (including pursuant to any defeasance or discharge mechanism) (collectively, ”refinance,” “refinances,” “refinanced” and “refinancing” shall each have a correlative meaning) any Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture (including additional Indebtedness Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), defeasance costs, accrued interest and fees and expenses (including fees and expenses relating to the Incurrence of such Refinancing Indebtedness) in connection with any such refinancing) including Indebtedness that refinances Refinancing Indebtedness or Incurred in connection with a repurchase, redemption or similar transaction, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in each case including by exchange offers and private exchanges; provided, however, that:
(1) the Stated Maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be earlier than that of the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(2) the Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being refinanced;
(3) such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the sum of the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced (plus, without duplication, any additional Indebtedness Incurred to pay fees, premiums or costs with respect to the instruments governing such existing Indebtedness or tender premiums, defeasance costs, accrued interest and fees and expenses in connection with any such refinancing);
(4) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is Subordinated Obligations, Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, or otherwise subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Subordinated Obligations, Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Note Guarantees, respectively, on terms at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced;
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(5) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is secured, the Liens securing such Refinancing Indebtedness have a Lien priority equal or junior to the Liens securing the Indebtedness being refinanced (and if the Indebtedness being refinanced is unsecured, the Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in respect of such Indebtedness may not be secured with any Liens);
(6) Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include Indebtedness of a Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor;
(7) Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed or secured by additional guarantors or collateral, respectively, relative to the refinanced Indebtedness; and
(8) Refinancing Indebtedness shall not have a greater ranking or payment priority than the Indebtedness being refinanced.
“Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-3 and/or S-4 dated September 9, 2025, as may be amended or supplemented, registering certain of the Notes described herein under the Securities Act.
“Responsible Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Restricted Investment” means any Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings or any successor to its rating agency business.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries secured by a Lien.
“Secured Parties” means the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, the Holders and each other Person who is owed any portion of the Obligations under this Indenture.
“Securities Account” means all “securities accounts” as such term is defined in the UCC or the PPSA, as applicable.
“SecuritiesAct” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Security Agreement” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the U.S. Security Agreement, the Canadian Security Agreements, the Dutch Security Agreements, the German Security Agreements, the Swiss Security Agreements and the UK Security Agreements.
“Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap” means that the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of Investments by (x) the Company and the Guarantors in, and loans and advances by the Company and the
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Guarantors to, and Guarantees by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness and other obligations of, Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors and (y) the Company and the Domestic Guarantors in, and loans and advances by the Company and the Domestic Guarantors to, and Guarantees by the Company and the Domestic Guarantors of Indebtedness and other obligations of, Foreign Guarantors, in each case of this clause (i), pursuant to clauses (4), (5) and (6) of the definition of “Permitted Investments”, (ii) solely to the extent positive, the Net Cash Pooling Investment, and (iii) the aggregate amount of consideration paid by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with Permitted Acquisitions of Subsidiaries that do not become Guarantors, shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
“Similar Business” means any business similar in nature to any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business that is reasonably related, complementary, incidental or ancillary thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, in each case, as determined in good faith by the Company.
“SpecifiedCollateral” means that portion of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property Collateral (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement).
“Specified Indebtedness” means Subordinated Obligations, Guarantor Subordinated Obligations, unsecured Indebtedness, and Indebtedness secured on a junior basis to the Liens securing the Obligations in respect of the Notes.
“Specified Jurisdiction” means any of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, England and Wales.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in the agreement governing or certificate relating to such Indebtedness as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but not including any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“Subordinated Obligation” means any Indebtedness of the Company (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) that is subordinated or junior in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to its terms.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means (1) any corporation, unlimited liability company, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total ordinary 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 (or Persons performing similar functions) or (2) any partnership, joint venture limited liability company or similar entity of which more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, is, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (a) such Person, (b) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (c) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates,
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currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions and any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be a Swap Agreement.
“Swiss Guarantor” means any Guarantor incorporated and organized under the laws of Switzerland or which is considered to be tax resident in Switzerland for Swiss Withholding Tax purposes.
“Swiss SecurityAgreements” means, collectively, any Swiss law governed security agreement entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any Note Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Swiss Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company incorporated and organized under the laws of Switzerland or which is considered to be tax resident in Switzerland for Swiss Withholding Tax purpose.
“Swiss Withholding Tax” means taxes imposed under the Swiss Withholding Tax Act.
“Swiss Withholding Tax Act” means the Swiss Federal Act on the Withholding Tax of 13 October 1965 (Bundesgesetz über die Verrechnungssteuer), together with the related ordinances, regulations and guidelines, all as amended and applicable from time to time.
“Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.
“Synthetic Lease Obligations” means, as to any Person, an amount equal to the sum, without duplication, of (a) the obligations of such person to pay rent or other amounts under any Synthetic Lease which are attributable to principal and (b) the amount of any purchase price payment under any Synthetic Lease assuming the lessee exercises the option to purchase the leased property at the end of the lease term. A Synthetic Lease Obligation shall be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased and such property shall be deemed to be owned by the lessee.
“Total Assets” means, at any date of determination, the consolidated total assets of the Company as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Month of the Company for which financial statements have theretofore been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 4.06 as adjusted to any pro forma event occurring pursuant to the terms of this Indenture since such date.
“Transaction Support Agreement” means that certain Transaction Support Agreement dated August 13, 2025, among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and the supporting noteholders party thereto.
“Transactions” means those certain transactions contemplated by the Transaction Support Agreement and Registration Statement.
“Transfer Restricted Notes” means Definitive Notes and any other Notes that bear or are required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
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“Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, until a successor, if any, replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
“UK Guarantor” means any Guarantor that is a UK Subsidiary.
“UK Security Agreements” means, collectively, (a) that certain English law all asset security agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the UK Guarantors and the Notes Collateral Agent and (b) any other English law pledge or security agreement (including any supplemental agreement or accession agreement in respect of a UK Security Agreement) entered into prior to, on, or after the Issue Date by any other Note Party (as required by this Indenture or any other Note Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“UK Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company incorporated in England and Wales.
“Unfinanced Capital Expenditures” means capital expenditures (a) not financed with the proceeds of any incurrence of long-term Indebtedness (other than the incurrence of any loans, Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations) or the proceeds of any sale or issuance of Capital Stock or equity contributions, and (b) that are not reimbursed by a third person (excluding the Company or any Guarantor or any of its Affiliates) in the period such expenditures are made pursuant to a written agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Unfinanced Capital Expenditures shall include capital expenditures financed with the proceeds of any loans, Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations.
“Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in any applicable jurisdiction.
“United States” means the United States of America.
“U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Security Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, between the Company, the Domestic Guarantors and the Notes Collateral Agent, and, as the context requires, any other pledge or security agreement entered into after the Issue Date by the Company or any Domestic Guarantor (as required by this Agreement or any other Note Document), or any other Person, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Voting Stock” of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees, as applicable, of such Person.
Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
| Term | Defined in Section |
|---|---|
| “Affiliate Transaction” | 4.14(a) |
| “Agent Members” | 2.1(b) of Appendix A |
| “Applicable Procedures” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Auditor’s Determination” | 10.02(a) |
| “Authentication Order” | 2.03(c) |
| “Bondholder Call” | 4.06(c) |
| “Capital Impairment” | 10.02(a) |
| “Change of Control Offer” | 4.15(a) |
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| Term | Defined in Section |
|---|---|
| “Change of Control Payment” | 4.15(a) |
| “Change of Control Payment Date” | 4.15(a)(2) |
| “Clearstream” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Commission” | 1.04 |
| “Corresponding Debt” | 13.20(b) |
| “Covenant Defeasance” | 8.03(a) |
| “Definitive Notes Legend” | 2.2(e)(i) of Appendix A |
| “Distribution Compliance Period” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Enforcement of Claims” | 10.02(a) |
| “ERISA Legend” | 2.2(e) of Appendix A |
| “Event of Default” | 6.01(a) |
| “Excess Proceeds” | 4.16(c) |
| “Expiration Date” | 1.05(j) |
| “Global Note” | 2.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Global Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) of Appendix A |
| “Guaranteed Obligations” | 10.01(a) |
| “IAI” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “IAI Global Note” | 2.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Indenture Currency” | 13.21(b) |
| “indenture securities” | 1.04 |
| “indenture security holder” | 1.04 |
| “indenture to be qualified” | 1.04 |
| “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” | 1.04 |
| “Judgment Currency” | 13.21(b) |
| “Legal Defeasance” | 8.02(a) |
| “Management Notification” | 10.02(a) |
| “Note Register” | 2.04(a) |
| “obligor” | 1.04 |
| “Parallel Debt” | 13.20(a) |
| “Parallel Debt Undertaking” | 13.20(a) |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.04(a) |
| “PDF” | 13.16 |
| “Premises” | 11.06(a) |
| “QIB” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Registrar” | 2.04(a) |
| “Regulation S” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Regulation S Global Note” | 2.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Regulation S Global Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) of Appendix A |
| “Relevant Asset” | 10.02(a) |
| “Restricted Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) of Appendix A |
| “Restricted Payment” | 4.08(a) |
| “Rule 144” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Rule 144A” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Rule 144A Global Note” | 2.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Separated Notes” | 2.01 |
| “United States” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “Unrestricted Global Note” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
| “U.S. person” | 1.1(a) of Appendix A |
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Section 1.03. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term defined in Section 1.01 or Section 1.02 has the meaning assigned to it therein, and a term used herein that is defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, shall have the meaning assigned to it therein;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) “or” is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular;
(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
(6) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Appendix,” “Article,” “Section,” “clause,” “Schedule” or “Exhibit” refers to an Appendix, Article, Section, clause, Schedule or Exhibit, as the case may be, of this Indenture;
(7) the words “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not any particular Article, Section, clause or other subdivision;
(8) “including” means including without limitation;
(9) references to sections of, or rules under, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;
(10) unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements or instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture; and
(11) in the event that a transaction meets the criteria of more than one category of permitted transactions or listed exceptions, the Company may classify such transaction as it, in its sole discretion, determines.
Section 1.04. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act as applicable to this Indenture, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture upon and after, but not before, the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC;
“indenture securities” means the Notes;
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“indenture security holder” means a Holder of a Note;
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and
“obligor” on the Notes and the Note Guarantees means the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and any successor obligor upon the Notes and the Note Guarantees, respectively.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rules under the Trust Indenture Act have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.05. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company and the Guarantors. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors, 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 (1) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof or (2) in any other manner deemed reasonably sufficient by the Trustee. Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same.
(c) The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee, the Company or the Guarantors in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.
(e) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, or to vote on or consent to any action authorized or permitted to be taken by Holders; provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in clause (f) below. Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Company 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, any such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or vote or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation or vote. If any record date is set pursuant to this clause (e), the Holders on such record date,
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and only such Holders, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action (including revocation of any action), whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes, or each affected Holder, as applicable, on such record date. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.02.
(f) The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to join in the giving or making of (1) any notice of default under Section 6.01, (2) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 6.02, (3) any direction referred to in Section 6.05 or (4) any request to pursue a remedy as permitted in Section 6.06. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes or each affected Holder, as applicable, on such record date. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.02.
(g) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.
(h) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.
(i) The Company may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by a Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary, if any, to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders; provided that if such a record date is fixed, only the beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such beneficial owners remain beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date.
(j) With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.05, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Notes in the manner set forth in Section 13.02, on or prior to both the existing and the new Expiration Date. If an
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Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.05, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 30th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this clause (j).
Section 1.06. Quebec Interpretive Provisions.
For purposes of the interpretation or construction of this Indenture pursuant to the laws of the Province of Quebec, for purposes of any Collateral located in the Province of Quebec or charged by any deed of hypothec (or any other Collateral Document) and for all other purposes pursuant to which the interpretation or construction of any other Collateral Document may be subject to the laws of the Province of Quebec or a court or tribunal exercising jurisdiction in the Province of Quebec, (a) “personal property” shall be deemed to include “movable property”, (b) “real property” shall be deemed to include “immovable property”, (c) “tangible property” shall be deemed to include “corporeal property”, (d) “intangible property” shall be deemed to include “incorporeal property”, (e) “security interest”, “mortgage” and “lien” shall be deemed to include a “hypothec”, a “reservation of ownership”, “prior claim” and a “resolutory clause,” (f) all references to filing, registering or recording under the PPSA shall be deemed to include publication under the Civil Code of Quebec, (g) all references to “perfection” of or “perfected” Liens shall be deemed to include a reference to an “opposable” or “set up” Liens as against third parties, (h) any “right of offset”, “right of setoff” or similar expression shall be deemed to include a “right of compensation”, (i) “goods” shall be deemed to include “corporeal movable property” other than chattel paper, documents of title, instruments, money and securities, (j) an “agent” shall be deemed to include a “mandatary,” (k) “construction liens” shall be deemed to include “legal hypothecs in favour of persons having taken part in the construction or renovation of an immovable”, (l) “joint and several” shall be deemed to include “solidary” and “jointly and severally” shall be deemed to include “solidarily” (m) “gross negligence or willful misconduct” shall be deemed to be “intentional or gross fault”, (n) “beneficial ownership” shall be deemed to include “ownership on behalf of another as mandatary”, (o) “legal title” shall be deemed to include “holding title on behalf of an owner as mandatary or prete-nom”, (p) “easement” shall be deemed to include “servitude”, (q) “priority” shall be deemed to include “prior claim” or “rank”, as applicable, (r) “survey” shall be deemed to include “certificate of location and plan”, (s) “fee simple title” and “fee title” shall be deemed to include “right of ownership”, (t) “foreclosure” shall be deemed to include “the exercise of a hypothecary right”, (u) “leasehold interest” shall be deemed to include “valid rights resulting from a lease”, (v) “lease” for personal or movable property shall be deemed to include a “contract of leasing (credit-bail)” and (x) “deposit account” shall include a “financial account” as defined in Article 2713.6 of the Civil Code of Quebec.
Section 1.07. [Reserved].
Section 1.08. Dutch Terms
As used in this Indenture, where it relates to a Dutch Guarantor, a reference to: (i) organizational documents means the deed of incorporation (akte van oprichting), an up-to-date and certified copy of the articles of association (statuten), a copy of any (board or other) regulation (bestuursreglement) and an up-to-date extract of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel); (ii) a necessary corporate or other organizational action where applicable includes without limitation: (A) any action required to comply with the Works Councils Act of the Netherlands (Wet op de ondernemingsraden); and (B) obtaining an unconditional positive advice, from the competent works council(s) (ondernemingsraad); (iii) any Lien and any security interest includes any mortgage (hypotheek), pledge (pandrecht), retention of title arrangement (eigendomsvoorbehoud), privilege (voorrecht), right of retention (recht van retentie), right to reclaim goods (recht van reclame), and, in general, any right in rem (zakelijk recht) created for the purpose of granting security (goederenrechtelijkzekerheidsrecht); (iv) a bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, winding up, or
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dissolution (and any of those terms) includes a Dutch entity being declared bankrupt (failliet verklaard) or dissolved (ontbonden); (v) a moratorium includes (voorlopige)surseance van betaling and granted a moratorium includes (voorlopige) surseance verleend; (vi) a trustee, includes a curator and a liquidator includes a curator; (vii) an administrator includes a bewindvoerder, a beoogd bewinvoerder, a herstructureringsdeskundige or an observator; (viii) a receiver or an administrative receiver does include a curator or bewindvoerder; (ix) any “procedure or step” taken in connection with insolvency proceedings includes a Dutch Guarantor having filed a notice under Section 36 of the Tax Collection Act of the Netherlands (Invorderingswet 1990) or Section 60 of the Social Insurance Financing Act of the Netherlands (Wet Financiering Sociale Verzekeringen) in conjunction with Section 36 of the Tax Collection Act of the Netherlands (Invorderingswet 1990); (x) an attachment includes a beslag; (xi) a director includes a managing director (bestuurder) and board of directors includes a managing board (bestuur); (xii) a reorganization includes statutory proceedings for the restructuring of debt (akkoordprocedure) under the Dutch Bankruptcy Act (Faillissementswet); (xiii) a director includes a managing director (bestuurder) and board of directors includes a managing board (bestuur) and (xiv) a “subsidiary” includes a dochtermaatschappij as defined in Article 2:24a of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek). Where “the Netherlands” or “Dutch” is referred to it refers only to the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its laws respectively.
Section 1.09. German Terms
As used in this Indenture, where it relates to a German Guarantor, a reference to: (i) gross negligence includes grobeFahrlässigkeit; (ii) negligence includes Fahrlässigkeit; (iii) a security interest includes any mortgage (Grundschuld, Hypothek), pledge (Pfandrecht), retention of title arrangement (Eigentumsvorbehalt), right of retention (Zurückbehaltungsrecht), right to reclaim goods (Herausgabeansprüche), and, in general, any right in rem created for the purpose of granting security; (iv) a winding-up, administration or dissolution (and any of those terms) includes a German entity being declared bankrupt (insolvent) or dissolved (ausfgelöst); (v) any step or procedure taken in connection with insolvency proceedings includes a German entity having applied for bankruptcy (Insolvenzantrag) or the opening of bankruptcy proceedings (Insolvenzeröffnung); and (vi) an administrator includes an insolvency administrator (Insolvenzverwalter) and insolvency trustee (Sachwalter).
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Amount of Notes.
The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $29,824,133.
The Company may from time to time after the Issue Date issue Additional Notes under this Indenture in an unlimited principal amount, so long as (i) the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such Additional Notes is at such time permitted by Section 4.09(b) and (ii) such Additional Notes are issued in compliance with the other applicable provisions of this Indenture. With respect to any Additional Notes issued after the Issue Date (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10, 3.04, 3.06, 4.15(b)) or Appendix A (the “Appendix”)), there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors of the Company and (b) (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officer’s Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:
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(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture;
(2) the issue price and issuance date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest on such Additional Notes shall accrue; and
(3) if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Notes, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Notes in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.2 of the Appendix in which any such Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Notes registered, or any transfer of such Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof.
Section 2.02. Form and Dating; Terms.
Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated into and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Company or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and in minimum denominations of $1.00 and any integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
If any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will be issued as a separate series under this Indenture and will have a separate CUSIP number and ISIN from the Initial Notes. Any Additional Notes may be issued with the benefit of one or more supplemental indentures to this Indenture.
Section 2.03. Execution and Authentication.
(a) At least one Officer shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Company by manual, electronic or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office or is no longer authorized to represent the Company at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
(b) A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
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(c) On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes. In addition, at any time and from time to time (but subject to Section 2.01), the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued hereunder.
(d) The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. 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 Holders, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
(e) The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company (1) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $29,824,133 (comprised of one or more Global Notes), (2) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes, and (3) any Unrestricted Global Notes issued in exchange for any of the foregoing in accordance with this Indenture. Such order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes, Additional Notes or Unrestricted Global Notes.
Section 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.
(a) The Company shall maintain at least one office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and at least one office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (“NoteRegister”) and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co- registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
(b) The Company initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
(c) Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have responsibility or liability for actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
Section 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall, no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest paid in cash on any of the Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held in trust for the Holders entitled to the same, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure so to act. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest paid in cash on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment.
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While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon payment over to the Trustee, and upon accounting for any funds disbursed, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section 2.06. Holder Lists.
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 all Holders and shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least two 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 the Holders, and the Company shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(a).
Section 2.07. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A.
(b) Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (1) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (2) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption, or tendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in connection with a Change of Control Offer, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part or (3) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(c) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company 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, premium, if any, and (subject to the Record Date provisions of the Notes) interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(d) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02, the Company shall execute, and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.
(e) At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the replacement Global Notes or Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Appendix A so long as the requirements of this Indenture are satisfied.
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(f) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.07 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by mail or by facsimile or electronic transmission.
Section 2.08. Replacement Notes.
(a) If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the New York UCC are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Company or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Company or the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the New York UCC (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. Such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of (i) the Trustee to protect the Trustee or (ii) the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof. Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company.
(b) The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.
Section 2.09. Outstanding Notes.
(a) 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, those paid pursuant to Section 2.08, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, those described in this Section 2.09 as not outstanding and those that are subject to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article 8. Except as set forth in Section 2.10, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.
(b) If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a “protected purchaser”, as such term is defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York.
(c) If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue from and after the date of such payment.
(d) If a Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on the maturity date, any redemption date or any date of purchase pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, money sufficient to pay Notes payable or to be redeemed or purchased on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.
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Section 2.10. Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes beneficially owned by the Company, or by any Affiliate of the Company, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in actually relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
Section 2.11. Temporary Notes.
In the event that Definitive Notes are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes. Holders and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders, or beneficial holders, respectively, of Notes under this Indenture.
Section 2.12. Cancellation.
The Company 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 or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Evidence of the disposal of all cancelled Notes shall, upon the written request of the Company, be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13. Defaulted Interest.
(a) If the Company 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 on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing (which notice may be electronic) of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.13. The Company shall fix such special record date and payment date. At least 15 days before such special record date, the Company shall mail (or send electronically to DTC, in the case of Global Notes) to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest, and interest payable on defaulted interest, if any, to be paid. The Company may make payment of any defaulted interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements (if
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applicable) of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed and, upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this sentence, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.13 and for greater certainty, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue interest, which were carried by such other Note.
Section 2.14. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP or ISIN numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, CUSIP or ISIN numbers shall be used in notices of redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or exchange or Offer to Purchase shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing (which notice may be electronic) of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN numbers.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be sent or caused to be sent to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee) but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate (which may be withdrawn prior to the date such notice of redemption is given) setting forth (1) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (2) the redemption date, (3) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (4) the redemption price, if then ascertainable.
Notwithstanding the notice requirements in Section 3.03, if the redemption price is not known at the time such notice is to be given, the actual redemption price, calculated as described in the terms of the Notes to be redeemed, shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the redemption date.
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.
(a) If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.07 or purchased in an Offer to Purchase at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased (1) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed or (2) if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot in accordance with the Applicable Procedures or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems to be fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the then outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.
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(b) The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof; provided that no Notes of $1.00 in principal amount or less shall be redeemed or purchased in part. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.
(c) After the redemption date or purchase date, upon surrender of a Note to be redeemed or purchased in part only, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the original Note, representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or not purchased, shall be issued in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note (or appropriate book entries shall be made to reflect such partial redemption).
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
(a) The Company shall send or deliver by electronic transmission in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, or cause to be sent (or delivered by electronic transmission in accordance with the Applicable Procedures) notices of redemption of Notes not less than 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to this Article 3 at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 12. Except as set forth in Section 3.07(f), notices of redemption may not be conditional. Notices to the Trustee may be given by email in PDF format.
(b) The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including CUSIP and ISIN number, if applicable) and shall state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price, including the portion thereof representing any accrued and unpaid interest; provided that in connection with a redemption under Section 3.07(d), the notice need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation;
(3) if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that is to be redeemed;
(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(7) the paragraph or subparagraph of the Notes or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;
(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or ISIN number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and
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(9) if applicable, any condition to such redemption.
(c) At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be sent or caused to be sent to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in Section 3.03(b).
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price (except as provided for in Section 3.07(f)). The notice, if sent in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note. Subject to Section 3.05, on and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.
(a) No later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the redemption or purchase date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the applicable Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Holder of record on such Record Date. The applicable Paying Agent shall promptly distribute to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed or repurchased the applicable redemption or purchase price thereof and accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.
(b) If the Company complies with the provisions of Section 3.05(a), on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase whether or not such Notes are presented for payment, and the Holders of such Notes shall have no further rights with respect to such Notes except the right to receive such payment of the redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such Notes upon surrender of such Notes. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date in respect of such Note will be paid on such redemption or purchase date to the Person in whose name such Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and no additional interest shall be payable to Holders whose Notes shall be subject to redemption by the Company. If any Note called for redemption or purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 3.05(a), interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01.
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Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.
Upon surrender and cancellation of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to the Holder (or cause to be transferred by book entry) at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or purchased; provided that each new Note shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.
Section 3.07. Optional Redemption.
(a) [reserved].
(b) [reserved].
(c) [reserved].
(d) The Company may, on any one or more occasions, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon notice pursuant to Section 3.03, at the redemption price of 100.000% (expressed as a percentage of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed) plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable date of redemption.
(e) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06.
(f) Any redemption notice in connection with this Section 3.07 may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. If such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed.
(g) The Company may acquire Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws, so long as such acquisition does not otherwise violate the terms of this Indenture.
Section 3.08. Mandatory Redemption.
The Company will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
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Section 3.09. [Reserved].
Section 3.10. [Reserved].
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes.
(a) The Company will pay, or cause to be paid, the principal, 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 Company or a Subsidiary, holds as of 11:00 a.m. (New York City) time, on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.
(b) The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Laws) on overdue principal and premium, if any, at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post- petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Laws) 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.
The Company 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 Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company and the Guarantors in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company 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 Company 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.
The Company may also from time to time designate additional 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. The Company 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.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.04.
Section 4.03. Taxes.
The Company and the Guarantors shall pay or cause to be paid all taxes required to have been paid by it (including in its capacity as withholding agent), except (a) any taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which the Company or such Guarantor has set aside on its books reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect
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Section 4.04. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company and each Guarantor 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 of this Indenture; and the Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant 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 4.05. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article 5, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (a) its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary and (b) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership, limited liability company, unlimited liability company or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Company in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided further that this Section 4.05 does not prohibit any transaction otherwise permitted by Section 4.16.
Section 4.06. Reports and Other Information.
(a) The Company will furnish or file with the Trustee, within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If the Company is not subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will nevertheless continue filing the reports specified in the preceding sentence with the SEC within the time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing (in which case the Company shall deliver to the Trustee with written instructions to deliver to the Holders (in lieu of filing with the SEC) within the time periods for filing applicable to a filer that is not an “accelerated filer” as defined in the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act), but in such event the reports specified in the preceding sentence shall not be required to contain certain disclosures relating to the Company’s controls and procedures, corporate governance, code of ethics, director independence, market for the Company’s equity securities and executive compensation. the Company will not take any action for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. For purposes of this Section 4.06, the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and information to, or filed such reports and information with, the Trustee and the holders of the Notes as required by this covenant if it has filed such reports or information with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system or otherwise made such reports or information publicly available on a freely accessible page on the Company’s website. The Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such reports and information have been filed or have been posted on such website.
(b) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company will not be obligated
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to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, so long as the Company provides such information to the Trustee and the Holders and makes available such information to prospective purchasers of the Notes, in each case at the Company’s expense and by the applicable date the Company would be required to file such information pursuant to the preceding paragraph and (ii) the Company will not be obligated to provide to the Trustee or the Holders or make available to prospective purchasers of the Notes any materials for which it has sought and received confidential treatment by the SEC. In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish to Holders and prospective purchasers of the Notes, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
(c) In addition, no later than five Business Days after the date the annual and quarterly financial information for the prior fiscal period have been filed or furnished pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Company shall also hold live quarterly conference calls with the opportunity to ask questions of management for the benefit of the beneficial owners of the Notes, securities analysts and market making financial institutions (any such call, a “Bondholder Call”); provided that, so long as the Company holds quarterly conference calls for investors of its Common Stock, it shall not be required to hold Bondholder Calls. If the Company holds any Bondholder Call, no fewer than five calendar days prior to the date such Bondholder Call is to be held, the Company shall issue a press release to the appropriate U.S. wire services announcing such Bondholder Call for the benefit of beneficial owners of the Notes, securities analysts and market making financial institutions, which press release shall contain the time and the date of such Bondholder Call and direct the recipients thereof to contact an individual at the Company (for whom contact information shall be provided in such notice) to obtain information on how to access such Bondholder Call.
Section 4.07. Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor (to the extent that such Guarantor is so required under the Trust Indenture Act) will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, a certificate from its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company and each Guarantor have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company and each Guarantor have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company and each Guarantor are taking or propose to take with respect thereto).
(b) When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary gives any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Company will promptly (which shall be within ten Business Days following the date on which the Company becomes aware of such Default, receives notice of such Default or becomes aware of such action, as applicable) send to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereof.
Section 4.08. Limitation on Restricted Payments.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to:
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(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution (whether made in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Capital Stock in the Company or any Subsidiary, or any payment or distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, exchange, conversion, cancellation or termination of any Capital Stock in the Company or any Subsidiary;
(2) purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value, including in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, any Capital Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;
(3) make any principal payment on, or purchase, repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled repayment, scheduled sinking fund payment or scheduled maturity, any Specified Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness of the Company owing to and held by any Guarantor or Indebtedness of a Guarantor owing to and held by any other Guarantor permitted under Section 4.09(b); or
(4) make any Restricted Investment
(all such payments and other actions referred to in clauses (1) through (4) of this Section 4.08(a) (other than any exception thereto) shall be referred to as a “Restricted Payment”).
(b) The provisions of Section 4.08(a) will not prohibit:
(i) payments of or in respect of Specified Indebtedness solely by issuance of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(ii) refinancings of Specified Indebtedness with the proceeds of Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.09;
(iii) dividends or distributions payable solely in Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or convert its Capital Stock into, or otherwise acquire its Capital Stock solely in exchange for, other Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock);
(iv) payment of secured Specified Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of (A) any voluntary sale or transfer of any assets securing such Indebtedness or (B) any casualty or condemnation proceeding (including a disposition in lieu thereof) of any assets securing such Indebtedness;
(v) dividends paid within 60 days after the date of declaration if at such date of declaration such dividend would have complied with this covenant;
(vi) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions with respect to its capital stock, partnership or membership interests or other similar Capital Stock, or make other Restricted Payments in respect of its Capital Stock, in each case ratably to the holders of such Capital Stock (or, if not ratably, on a basis more favorable to the Company and the Subsidiaries);
(vii) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, other Restricted Payments (excluding non-cash Restricted Payments consisting of Collateral and excluding any acquisitions of the 2026 Notes) in an aggregate amount, when taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (7), not to exceed
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$5,000,000 (with the Fair Market Value of each Restricted Payment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
(viii) payments of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due and mandatory prepayments in respect of any Specified Indebtedness and expenses and indemnity in respect of such Specified Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;
(ix) any payment in cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of the Company’s Capital Stock representing insignificant interests in the Company in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock in the Company;
(x) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Company may purchase Capital Stock from its or its Subsidiaries’ employees in connection with the satisfaction of any such employee’s tax withholding obligations pursuant to employee benefit plans, and payments of any corresponding amounts to the appropriate Governmental Authority, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 during any Fiscal Year;
(xi) (i) Restricted Payments by the Company and each Subsidiary to the Company or any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or (ii) Restricted Payments by any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to the Company or any Subsidiary; or
(xii) the exchange of 2026 Notes into First-Out Notes permitted pursuant to Section 4.09;
(xiii) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or acquisition or retirement of the 2026 Notes prior to their maturity; or
(xiv) any Restricted Payment permitted under the First-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Credit Agreement, or in each case, any replacement thereof.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of such Restricted Payment (without giving effect to subsequent changes in value) of the assets or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to such Restricted Payment. The amount of any Restricted Payment paid in cash shall be its face amount.
Section 4.09. Limitation on Indebtedness.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness).
(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) will not prohibit the Incurrence of the following Indebtedness:
(1) the incurrence by the Company or the Guarantors of Indebtedness under (x) the ABL Facility or one or more other Credit Facilities, the guarantees thereof and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of (i) $180,000,000, and (ii) a borrowing base equal to the sum of (1) 90.0% of the face amount of all
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credit card receivable owned by the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent Fiscal Month preceding the date of determination, (2) 90.0% of the face amount of all other accounts receivable owned by the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent Fiscal Month preceding the date of determination, (3) 100.0% of the book value of all inventory owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the Fiscal Month preceding the date of determination, and (4) 70% of the appraised value of intellectual property (determined based on most recent appraisal of such intellectual property); provided that any reductions in the IP Cap and/or IP Advance Rate, in each case, as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement, shall not reduce amount of availability available under this clause (ii), and (y) any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the ABL Facility or any other Credit Facilities referred to in the foregoing clause (x); provided, that Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (1) is subject to the ABL Intercreditor Agreement or any other applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(2) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the Notes issued on the Issue Date;
(3) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the 2026 Notes in existence on the Issue Date;
(4) (i) Indebtedness of the Company represented by the First-Out Notes issued on the Issue Date, (ii) Indebtedness consisting of additional First-Out Notes issued following the Issue Date to Consenting Noteholders (as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture) in exchange for 2026 Notes pursuant to, and in compliance with the terms of, the Transaction Support Agreement, (iii) Indebtedness consisting of the PIK Notes (as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture) issued following the Issue Date in connection with a Borrowing Base Overage, and (iv) Indebtedness of any Guarantor represented by a Guarantee of the First-Out Notes;
(5) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in existence on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23) and (24) of this Section 4.09(b)), provided that any amounts of any such Indebtedness paid down in connection with any purchases, repurchases, redemptions or otherwise (other than in connection with a substantially concurrent refinancing by way of Refinancing Indebtedness) shall be reduced from any amount of Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (5) that would otherwise be permitted to be Incurred using Refinancing Indebtedness;
(6) (i) Guarantees incurred in compliance with Permitted Investments (other than clause (22) of the definition thereof), and (ii) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries (other than Foreign Guarantors) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $12,500,000 (inclusive of lines of credit of Foreign Subsidiaries existing on the Issue Date) at any time outstanding;provided that such Indebtedness under this clause (ii) shall not be Guaranteed by, or secured by any property of, any Domestic Subsidiary or Guarantor;
(7) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary (A) incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, provided that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets or (B) assumed in connection with the acquisition of any fixed or capital assets, and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing; provided
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that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (7) shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(8) Indebtedness of the Company to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Company or any other Subsidiary;provided that (i) such Indebtedness shall not have been transferred to any Person other than the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) any such Indebtedness owing by (x) the Company or a Guarantor to a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or (y) the Company or a Guarantor to another Guarantor, except to the extent owing by a Domestic Guarantor to another Domestic Guarantor, shall, in each case be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the Notes pursuant to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, and (iii) any such Indebtedness shall be permitted under the definition of “Permitted Investments” (other than pursuant to clause (22) of the definition thereof);
(9) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability, unemployment insurance, social security laws or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, self-insurance obligations, performance, bid, surety and similar bonds and completion Guarantees (not for borrowed money), in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(10) Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money) arising from agreements of the Company or a Subsidiary providing for indemnification, contribution, earn-out, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business or assets of the Company, any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Subsidiary or any other acquisition or disposition, in each case, permitted under the terms of this Indenture;
(11) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000, together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that such Indebtedness is issued for cash;
(12) the Incurrence by the Company or any Subsidiary of Refinancing Indebtedness that serves to refinance any Indebtedness Incurred as permitted under clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (20), (21) and (23) and this clause (12) of this Section 4.09(b);
(13) Indebtedness arising from (a) the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business or (b) the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;
(14) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in respect of surety bonds (whether bid performance or otherwise) and performance and completion guarantees and other obligations of a like nature, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(15) Indebtedness incurred under leases of real property in respect of tenant improvements;
(16) obligations under any agreement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit cards, debit cards, p-cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, in-transit cash services, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement,
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lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting, trade finance services, supply chain finance services and other cash management services;
(17) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and otherwise in connection with deposit and checking accounts, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(18) Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums and (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(19) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, including any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding pursuant to this clause (19).
(20) (A) Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition so long as (i) such Indebtedness is not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) at the time such Indebtedness is incurred by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, immediately after giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence and any related financing transactions (calculated as of the last day of the Fiscal Month of the Company then most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 4.06), the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Subsidiaries does not exceed 1.50:1.00;
(21) Indebtedness consisting of Super Priority Notes (as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture) issued following the Issue Date pursuant to the terms of the First-Out Notes Indenture;
(22) Indebtedness under Hedging Obligations that are Incurred in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Company or a Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities and not for speculative purposes;
(23) any other Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under the terms of the First-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Credit Agreement, or in each case, any replacement thereof; and
(24) in addition to the items referred to in clauses (1) through (23) above, Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount which, when taken together with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (24) and then outstanding, will not exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness that is either secured or has a maturity date prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes, shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.
For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant:
(1) in the event that Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in Section 4.09(b), the Company, in its sole discretion, may classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of Incurrence and may later reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with Section 4.09(b) and will be entitled to divide the amount and type of such Indebtedness among more than one of such clauses under Section 4.09(b);
(2) if obligations in respect of letters of credit are Incurred pursuant to a Debt Facility and relate to other Indebtedness, then such letters of credit shall be treated as Incurred pursuant to such Debt Facility and such other Indebtedness shall not be included; and
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(3) except as provided in clause (2) of Section 4.09(b), Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included.
Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of debt discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness and the payment of dividends in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant.
For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term 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-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced. Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Subsidiary may Incur pursuant to this covenant 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, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such Refinancing Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.
For purposes of this Indenture, no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated or junior in right of payment to any other Indebtedness solely by virtue of (1) being unsecured or (2) its having a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.
Section 4.10. Limitation on Liens.
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets (including Capital Stock of Subsidiaries) now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, in each case, other than Permitted Liens.
Section 4.11. Future Guarantors.
(a) The Company will cause (i) each Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that, on the Issue Date or any time thereafter, becomes a borrower or Guarantees the Obligations under the 2026 Notes (other than Fossil (UK) Global Services Ltd.), the First-Out Notes or the ABL Facility and (ii) each Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that, on the Issue Date or any time thereafter, Guarantees any other Indebtedness for borrowed money of (a) the Company or any Guarantor or (b) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary (and with respect to sub-clause (ii)(b), only to the extent such Indebtedness exceeds $2,500,000), to promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C, pursuant to which such Subsidiary will irrevocably and unconditionally Guarantee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (including additional interest, if any) in respect of the Notes on a senior basis and all other Obligations under this Indenture, in each case, subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.
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(b) Each Subsidiary that becomes a Guarantor on or after the Issue Date will also become a party to the applicable Collateral Documents and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements and will as promptly as practicable execute and deliver such joinder documents, security instruments, and financing statements, and, with respect to any Material Real Property, Mortgages, opinions of counsel, surveys and title insurance policies as required under Section 11.06, under this Indenture and Collateral Documents to the extent, and substantially in the form, delivered on the Issue Date or, if later, on the date first delivered (but no greater scope) as may be necessary to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a perfected security interest with the priority described in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens and otherwise in the manner and to the extent set forth in the Collateral Documents and this Indenture and, subject to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, in the properties and assets of such new Guarantor constituting Collateral as security for the Notes or the Note Guarantees, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such properties and assets to the same extent and with the same force and effect.
(c) The obligations of each Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor (including, without limitation, any Guarantees of the ABL Facility or Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness) and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the Obligations of such other Guarantor under its Note Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution Obligations under this Indenture, result in the Obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a preference, fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law or any applicable foreign law.
(d) Each Note Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be released in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06.
Section 4.12. Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions From Subsidiaries.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any Subsidiary (it being understood that the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on Common Stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock);
(2) make any loans or advances to the Company or any Subsidiary (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or
(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its property or assets to the Company or any Subsidiary (it being understood that such transfers shall not include any type of transfer described in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 4.12(a)).
(b) The provisions of Section 4.12(a) will not prohibit encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
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(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions pursuant to the ABL Facility, the Second-Out Notes Indenture, the Second-Out Notes, the 2026 Notes Indenture and the 2026 Notes, and documentation related thereto and other agreements or instruments in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date;
(2) this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents, and the Intercreditor Agreements;
(3) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired (including after-acquired property);
(4) any amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing of an agreement referred to in clauses (1), (2) or (3) of this Section 4.12(b) or this clause (4);
(5) in the case of clause (3) of Section 4.12(a), Liens permitted to be Incurred under Section 4.10 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;
(6) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business, Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations permitted under this Indenture, in each case that impose encumbrances or restrictions of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 4.12(a) on the property so acquired;
(7) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or a portion of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary;
(8) restrictions on cash, Cash Equivalents or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers, suppliers, lessors or landlords or required by insurance, surety or bonding companies under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(9) any customary provisions in leases, subleases or licenses and other agreements entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
(10) restrictions on cash, Cash Equivalents or other deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, tenders, government contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety, stay, custom, performance and appeal bonds or other obligations of a like nature (including standby letters of credit or completion guarantees), in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(11) encumbrances or restrictions arising or existing by reason of applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;
(12) any customary provisions in partnership agreements, limited liability company agreements, joint venture agreements, other similar agreements and related governance documents entered into in the ordinary course of business;
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(13) to the extent required by the minority shareholders thereof, any restriction with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary of which less than 90% of the Voting Stock is owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and
(14) other Indebtedness Incurred or Preferred Stock issued by a Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.09 that, in the good faith determination of the Company, are not more restrictive with respect to encumbrances and restrictions of the nature described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of Section 4.12(a), taken as a whole, than those applicable to the Company in this Indenture, the Second-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Facility, or the 2026 Notes and the 2026 Notes Indenture on the Issue Date (which results in encumbrances or restrictions at a Subsidiary level comparable to those applicable to the Company).
Section 4.13. [Reserved].
Section 4.14. Transactions with Affiliates.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to sell, lease, license or otherwise transfer any assets to, or purchase, lease, license or otherwise acquire any assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates (an “Affiliate Transaction”), except:
(1) transactions in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that would prevail in an arm’s-length transaction with unrelated third parties; provided that, (x) a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors (or disinterested members of any similar governing body) of the Company shall have adopted a resolution or otherwise authorized an action to approve any transaction permitted under this clause (1) that is in excess of $5,000,000 and (y) an independent fairness opinion shall have been issued by a reputable investment bank or other third party selected by the Company in good faith affirming the fairness of any transaction permitted under this clause (1) that is in excess of $25,000,000;
(2) transactions between or among the Company and the Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate; and
(3) any Permitted Investment or any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 4.08;
(4) the payment of reasonable fees and compensation to, and the providing of reasonable indemnities on behalf of, directors and officers of the Company or any Subsidiary, as determined by the board of directors of the Company in good faith; and
(5) any other transaction permitted under the First-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Credit Agreement, or in each case, any replacement thereof.
Section 4.15. Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.
(a) Subject to the provisions of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, if a Change of Control occurs, the Company will make an offer to purchase all of the Notes (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a purchase price in cash equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”), subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive any interest due on the Change of Control Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes as described under Section 3.07, the Company will mail a notice of such Change of
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Control Offer to each Holder or otherwise send notice in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, with a copy to the Trustee, stating:
(1) that a Change of Control Offer is being made, the expiration time for such Change of Control Offer (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or otherwise sent in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC) and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for purchase by the Company at a purchase price in cash equal to 100.000% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the applicable record date to receive interest due on the Change of Control Payment Date);
(2) the purchase date (which shall be no later than three Business Days after the date such Change of Control Offer expires) (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);
(3) if such notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control and setting forth a brief description of the definitive agreement for the Change of Control; and
(4) the procedures determined by the Company, consistent with this Indenture, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes repurchased.
The notice, if mailed or otherwise delivered in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. If (A) the notice is mailed or otherwise delivered in a manner herein provided and (B) any Holder fails to receive such notice or a Holder receives such notice but it is defective, such Holder’s failure to receive such notice or such defect shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of the Notes as to all other Holders that properly received such notice without defect.
(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes (in integral multiples of $1.00) validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, provided that if, following repurchase of a portion of a Note, the remaining principal amount of such Note outstanding immediately after such repurchase would be less than $1.00, then the portion of such Note so repurchased shall be reduced so that the remaining principal amount of such Note outstanding immediately after such repurchase is $1.00;
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount sufficient to make the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes so validly tendered and not validly withdrawn; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.
(c) The applicable Paying Agent will promptly mail (or otherwise send in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC) to each Holder so tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a company order, will promptly authenticate and mail (or otherwise send in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC) (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each
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Holder a new Note (it being understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, no Opinion of Counsel will be required for the Trustee to authenticate and mail or send such new Note) equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $1.00 or integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof.
(d) If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Change of Control Payment Date will be paid on the Change of Control Payment Date to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date. Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof purchased on the Change of Control Payment Date.
(e) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if (1) 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 a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer or (2) the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Notes in accordance with Section 3.07. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon the occurrence of such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time such Change of Control Offer is made.
(f) The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Indenture by virtue of the conflict.
(g) If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not validly withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company pursuant to Section 4.15(e), purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn by such Holders, the Company or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to such Change of Control Offer, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to 100.000% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
(h) Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.15, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.15 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06.
Section 4.16. Asset Dispositions.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, cause or make any Asset Disposition unless:
(1) the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at least equal to the Fair Market Value (such Fair Market Value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition) of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition;
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(2) 75% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition received by the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (and with respect to any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Subsidiary from the transferee that are Cash Equivalents, only to the extent such instruments are converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of such Asset Disposition); and
(3) to the extent that any consideration received by the Company or any Subsidiary in such Asset Disposition constitutes securities or other assets that are of a type or class that constitutes Collateral, such securities or other assets are added to the Collateral securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable, in the manner and to the extent required by this Indenture or any of the Collateral Documents with the Lien on such Collateral securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable, being of the same priority with respect to the Notes and the Note Guarantees, as applicable, as the Lien on the assets disposed of in the Asset Disposition.
Section 4.17. [Reserved].
Section 4.18. Deposit Accounts.
Each Note Party shall within 30 days (or in the case of Deposit Accounts in Germany and Switzerland, the time period set forth in the German Security Agreements and Swiss Security Agreements, respectively) after the Issue Date or, if opened following the Issue Date, within 30 days (or in the case of Deposit Accounts in Germany and Switzerland, the time period set forth in the German Security Agreements and Swiss Security Agreements, respectively), of the opening of such Deposit Account (other than an Excluded Account) or the date any Person that owns such Deposit Account becomes a Note Party hereunder, execute and deliver, and cause each relevant depository institution to execute and deliver, to the Notes Collateral Agent a Control Agreement or other control arrangement satisfactory to the Notes Collateral Agent for each Deposit Account (other than any Excluded Account) of such Note Party.
Section 4.19. [Reserved].
Section 4.20. Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.
(a) The Company, each Note Party and each Subsidiary of the Company not constituting an Excluded Subsidiary shall have satisfied the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement by or on the Issue Date; provided that to the extent that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement (other than the execution of the Collateral Documents, delivery of Uniform Commercial Code or PPSA financing statements with respect to perfection of security interests in all assets of the Note Parties that may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or the PPSA of any applicable jurisdiction, delivery of intellectual property security agreements in form for filing with the USPTO, USCO and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the delivery of possessory collateral) cannot be satisfied by or on the Issue Date and are not satisfied as of the Issue Date after the Company has used commercially reasonable efforts to do so, such unsatisfied requirements shall be required to be satisfied as promptly as practicable after the Issue Date and in any event within the period specified therefor in Appendix B.
(b) The Company shall have delivered to the Notes Collateral Agent on the Issue Date, (i) a completed Perfection Certificate dated as of the Issue Date and signed by an Officer of each of the Company and each Note Party, together with all attachments contemplated thereby and (ii) results of (x) searches of the Uniform Commercial Code filings (or equivalent filings, including PPSA filings) and (y) bankruptcy, judgment, tax and intellectual property lien searches requested by the Trustee, together with (in the case of clause (x)) copies of the financing statements (or similar documents) disclosed by such search and evidence
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reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that the Liens indicated by such financing statements (or other documents) are permitted by hereunder or have been or will be released in connection with the issuance of the Notes on the Issue Date.
(c) Subject to clauses (a) and (b) above, each document (including any UCC, PPSA (or similar) financing statement and intellectual property security agreements required by any Collateral Document or under applicable requirements of law to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral required to be delivered pursuant to such Collateral Document (unless such Collateral Document provides for any such requirement to be provided at a later point in time), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation and the Trustee have made arrangements for such filing, registration or recordation.
ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.
(a) The Company will not consolidate with or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:
(1) (a) the Company is the surviving Person or (b) if the Company is not the surviving Person, then the surviving Person formed by such consolidation or merger to the Person to which such assets are so sold, assigned, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and any such other surviving Person shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture expressly assuming the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture;
(2) to the extent any assets of the Person who is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Company are assets of the type that would constitute Collateral under the Collateral Documents, the Company will take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the applicable Collateral Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Collateral Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the applicable Collateral Documents;
(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(4) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions, as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Subsidiaries does not exceed 1.00:1.00;
(5) each Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, in which case clause (1) of Section 5.01(b) shall apply) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Note Guarantee shall apply to the surviving Peron’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements; and
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(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation, winding-up or disposition, and such supplemental indenture and any other supplemental agreements comply with this Indenture.
(b) Notwithstanding clause (4) of Section 5.01(a), to the extent that the Company is the surviving Person:
(1) the Company may consolidate with, merge with or into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to any Subsidiary, and any Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge with or into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company, so long as no Capital Stock of the Subsidiary is distributed to any Person other than the Company; provided that, in the case of a Subsidiary that merges into the Company, the Company will not be required to comply with Section 5.01(a)(6); and
(2) the Company may merge with an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating or forming the Company in another state of the United States or the District of Columbia, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.
(c) The Company shall not permit any Guarantor to consolidate with, amalgamate with or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person (other than to the Company or another Guarantor) unless:
(1) (A) if such entity remains a Guarantor, the resulting, surviving, continuing or transferee Person (if not such Guarantor) shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture hereto and the applicable Collateral Documents in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, all the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee;
(B) to the extent any assets of the Person who is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the successor Guarantor are assets of the type that would constitute Collateral under the Collateral Documents, the successor Guarantor will take such action as may be reasonably necessary to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the applicable Collateral Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture or the applicable Collateral Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the applicable Collateral Documents;
(C) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(D) the Company will have delivered to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation, winding-up or disposition and such supplemental indenture and any other supplemental agreements comply with this Indenture; or
(2) in the event the transaction results in the release of the Guarantor’s Note Guarantee under clause (1)(A) of Section 10.06(a), the transaction is made in compliance with Section 4.16.
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(d) For purposes of this Section 5.01, the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, which properties and assets, if held by the Company or such Guarantor instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company or such Guarantor on a consolidated basis, will be deemed to be the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.01, any consolidation with or merger with or into or winding up into, or sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets, in one or more related transactions, to any Person by the Company or a Guarantor that is otherwise permitted under the terms of the First-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Credit Agreement, or in each case, any replacement thereof, shall be permitted under this Indenture.
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default.
(a) Each of the following is an “Event of Default”:
(1) default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days;
(2) default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, on any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon mandatory or optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;
(3) [reserved];
(4) failure by the Company or any Guarantor to comply for 30 days after notice as provided below with any of their obligations under Article 4 (in each case, other than (A) a failure to purchase Notes, which constitutes an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a)(2), or (B) a failure to comply with Section 4.06 which constitutes an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a)(5));
(5) failure by the Company or any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after notice as provided below with its other agreements contained in this Indenture or the Notes;
(6) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists or is created after the Issue Date, which default:
(A) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, at the final maturity of such Indebtedness; or
(B) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its maturity;
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and, in each case of this clause (6)(ii), the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10,000,000 or more;
(7) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $15,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment and has not denied coverage) shall be rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary, or any combination thereof, and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
(8) (i) the Company or a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries (excluding any Immaterial Subsidiaries) that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Laws:
(A) commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;
(B) consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking an arrangement of debt, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Laws; provided that any of the foregoing actions shall not constitute a Default if this would constitute a breach of section 44 of the German Act on the Stabilisation and Restructuring Framework for Business (StaRUG);
(C) consents to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, assignee, trustee, monitor sequestrator, administrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(E) generally is not paying its debts as they become due;
(ii) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Laws that:
(A) is for relief against the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, in a proceeding in which the Company, any such Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;
(B) appoints a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, assignee, trustee, monitor, sequestrator, administrator or other similar official of the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, or for all or
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substantially all of the property of the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or
(C) orders the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;
(9) any Note Guarantee of a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms of this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or its Note Guarantee; or
(10) with respect to any Collateral having a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million, individually or in the aggregate, (A) the security interest under the Collateral Documents, at any time, ceases to be a valid and perfected Lien (perfected as or having the priority required by the Collateral Documents and this Indenture) and in full force and effect for any reason other than in accordance with their terms and the terms of this Indenture and such failure continues for 60 days and other than the satisfaction in full of all obligations under this Indenture and discharge of this Indenture, except to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the limitations of foreign laws, rules and regulations or the application thereof, or from the failure of the Notes Collateral Agent (or the applicable controlling collateral agent pursuant to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement) to maintain possession of certificates or instruments actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents or (B) the Company or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary asserts, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable and such Person fails to rescind such assertion within 60 days.
However, a Default under clauses (4) and (5) of this Section 6.01(a) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes notify the Company of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in clauses (4) and (5) of this Section 6.01(a) after receipt of such notice.
(b) In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default described in clause (6) of Section 6.01(a) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if:
(1) the default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to clause (6) of Section 6.01(a) shall be remedied or cured by the Company or a Subsidiary or waived by the holders of the relevant Indebtedness within 20 days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto; and
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(2) (A) the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (B) all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.
Section 6.02. Acceleration.
(a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (8) of Section 6.01(a)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company, specifying the Event of Default, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately.
(b) If an Event of Default under clause (8) of Section 6.01(a) occurs and is continuing, the principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.
(c) The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may waive all past defaults (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, premium or interest) and rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if (1) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.
(d) [Reserved].
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 or this Indenture.
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 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.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6.02 of this Indenture or any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes, the sole remedy with respect to an Event of Default due to the Company’s failure to comply with the requirements under Section 4.01 of this Indenture, for the first 180 calendar days after the occurrence of such Event of Default, consists exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Notes at an annual rate equal to (1) 0.25% for the first 90 calendar days after such Event of Default and (2) 0.50% for calendar days 91 through 180 after such Event of Default. On the 181st day after such Event of Default, if such violation is not cured or waived, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes may declare the principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes to be due and payable immediately. If the Company elects to pay such additional interest, it shall notify the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes by certificate of the Company’s election at any time on or before the close of business on the first Business Day following the Event of
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Default. No additional interest shall be due or payable due to the occurrence of an Event of Default other than with respect to such failure to comply with reporting requirements.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all Holders waive any existing Default and its consequences hereunder, except:
(1) a continuing Default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note held by a non-consenting Holder (including in connection with a Change of Control Offer); and
(2) a Default with respect to a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected,
provided that, subject to Section 6.02, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority.
Subject to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent. However, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law, this Indenture, the Notes, any Note Guarantee, the Collateral Documents and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements, or that the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent determines in good faith is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee has no obligation to make such determination) or that would, in its or its counsel’s opinion, lead the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to expend its own funds or expose it to liability (financial or otherwise). For the avoidance of doubt, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of Holders until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in this Indenture and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability which it may incur in complying with those instructions.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
Subject to Section 6.07, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes (subject to the Intercreditor Agreements) unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;
(2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holders have offered, and if requested provided, the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
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(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company and any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes, together with 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, the Notes Collateral Agent and their agents and counsel.
Section 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.
Section 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.08, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy are, to the extent permitted by law, cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article 6 or by law to the Trustee
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or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.12. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee may file proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, their agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes, including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and is entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other securities or property payable or deliverable on any such claims. Any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent under Section 7.07 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 that the Holders 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 any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.13. Priorities.
Subject to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements with respect to any proceeds of Collateral, if the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, pursuant to the foreclosure or other remedial provisions contained in the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements or any money or other property distributable in respect of any Guarantor’s Guaranteed Obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default, it shall pay out the money and property in the following order:
(1) to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07, including payment of all compensation, reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and to the Notes Collateral Agent for the costs and expenses incurred under the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements;
(2) to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on such Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and
(3) to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable.
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The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.13. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this Section 6.13, the Trustee shall cause notice of such record date and payment date to be given to the Company and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.02.
Section 6.14. 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 such 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 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent.
(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 its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) With respect to the Trustee, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, and at all times with respect to the Notes Collateral Agent:
(1) the duties of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture or other Note Documents against the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent 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 the Notes Collateral Agent and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof or the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, as applicable (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent may be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
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(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;
(2) neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall 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; and
(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability (financial or otherwise) in the performance of any of its duties hereunder and the Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in their opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may be contrary to any Note Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Bankruptcy Laws.
(d) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any acts or omissions, except for such losses, damages or expenses which have been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have directly resulted from the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as the case may be.
(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, as applicable, that in any way relates to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 7.01.
(f) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall (i) have any duty to take any discretionary action or to exercise any discretionary power, or (ii) be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered, and if requested provided, to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent (as applicable) against any loss, liability or expense (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the applicable Note Document and which may include payment in advance).
(g) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent.
(a) Each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may conclusively rely upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties, not only as to due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent need investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent,
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as applicable, shall determine in good faith to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(b) Before the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may (but is not obliged to) require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both subject to the other provisions of this Indenture. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may consult with counsel or other professionals retained or consulted of its selection and the advice of such counsel, professional 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) Each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the acts or omissions of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.
(d) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or a Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or such Guarantor.
(f) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, and such notice references the existence of a Default or Event of Default, the Notes and this Indenture.
(g) In no event shall the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent 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 or the Notes Collateral Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in each of its capacities hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, and by, the Agents and each other agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder or thereunder.
(i) [Reserved].
(j) The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
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(k) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
(l) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent:
(1) shall be accountable for the use or application by any Person of disbursements properly made by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or the Collateral Documents or of moneys received from the Company or the Guarantors; or
(2) shall be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services.
(m) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be responsible for any unsuitability, inadequacy, expiration or unfitness of any security interest created hereunder or pursuant to any other Collateral Document pertaining to this matter nor shall it be obligated to make any investigation into, and shall be entitled to assume, the adequacy and fitness of any security interest created hereunder or pursuant to any other Collateral Document. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any obligation to give, execute, deliver, file, record, authorize or obtain any financing statements, notices, instruments, documents, agreements, consents or other papers as shall be necessary to (i) create, preserve, perfect or validate the security interest granted to the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents or (ii) enable the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights under the Collateral Documents with respect to such pledge and security interest. In addition, neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any responsibility or liability (i) in connection with the acts or omissions of the Company or any Guarantor in respect of the foregoing or (ii) for or with respect to the legality, validity and enforceability of any security interest created in the Collateral or the perfection and priority of such security interest.
(n) Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, the Notes Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or any income thereon or as to preservation of rights against any prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not 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. The Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords similar collateral and shall not 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.
(o) The permissive rights of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to do things enumerated in this Note Documents shall not be construed as a duty and, with respect to such permissive rights, neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be answerable for other than its gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(p) Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any liability for any action taken, or errors in judgment made, in good faith by it or any of its officers, employees or agents, unless it shall have been negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
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Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent.
The Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
However, in the event that the Trustee acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b) it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties or resign. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 and Section 7.11.
Section 7.04. Disclaimer.
Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Notes, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, 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 on the Notes.
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults.
If a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the Trustee is informed of such occurrence by the Company, the Trustee will mail or deliver by electronic transmission to each Holder a notice of the Default within 90 days after obtaining such knowledge or being notified by the Company. Except in the case of an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.01(a), the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if the Trustee determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.
(a) Within 60 days after each April 15, beginning with April 15, 2026 and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).
(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing in the event the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange or delisted therefrom.
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.
(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements as the parties shall
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agree in writing from time to time. Neither the Trustee’s nor the Notes Collateral Agent’s compensation shall be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee and the Notes 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 the Notes Collateral Agent’s agents and respective counsel. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall provide the Company reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary course of business.
(b) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify each of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and any predecessor Notes Collateral Agent and their directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “IndemnifiedParties”) for, and hold the Indemnified Parties harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent)) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder and under the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (including the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements against the Company or any Guarantor, court costs and any sworn translation costs and together with any applicable VAT)) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder). Each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent through the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
(d) To secure the payment obligations of the Company and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
(e) When the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(8) 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 Laws.
(f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.
Section 7.08. Appointment of the Notes Collateral Agent.
(a) Each Holder, by accepting and holding a Note (including by accepting a Note following transfer from another Holder), shall be deemed to have consented and agreed to the terms of the Collateral Documents (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of the Collateral and authorizing the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into any Collateral Document on its behalf)
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as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the Collateral Documents and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.
(b) In respect of the Dutch Security Agreements and the Collateral governed by Dutch law, the Notes Collateral Agent shall act in its own name and as creditor in its own right under the Parallel Debt as referred to in Section 13.20 of this Indenture for the benefit of the Trustee (acting for the benefit of the Holders).
(c) The Notes Collateral Agent shall act in accordance with the powers given to it by law and by the Non-ABL Agreements.
(d) The Notes Collateral Agent hereby accepts the appointments under Sections 7.08(b) and (c).
(e) The Notes Collateral Agent shall solely act in its capacity as Notes Collateral Agent or for itself (as secured party).
(f) Any change of Notes Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to this Section 7.08 shall be made in accordance with Section 7.08.
(g) The Trustee (acting on behalf and for the benefit of the Holders):
(1) [reserved]
(2) irrevocably authorises, empowers and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to perform the duties and exercise the rights, powers and discretions that are specifically entrusted to it under the Notes Documents, together with any other rights, powers and discretions which are incidental thereto; and
(3) acknowledges and confirms that the Notes Collateral Agent is entitled to take any step to protect the interests of the Secured Parties; however, the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make the filing of any proof of claim for the benefit of the Trustee (acting on behalf and for the benefit of the Holders), unless otherwise agreed between the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee.
(h) Without limiting the limiting the generality of the foregoing, by its acceptance of any Notes, each Holder irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent:
(i) in relation to the Collateral being subject to the German Security Agreements, to (A) hold, administer and realise such Collateral that is transferred or assigned by way of security (Sicherungseigentum/Sicherungsabtretung) or otherwise granted to it and is creating or evidencing a non-accessory security right (nicht akzessorische Sicherheit) in its own name as trustee (Treuhänder) for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders; and (B) hold (with regard to its own rights under the Parallel Debt), administer, and realise any such Collateral that is pledged (verpfändet) or otherwise transferred to the Notes Collateral Agent and is creating or evidencing an accessory security right (akzessorische Sicherheit) as agent in the name of and for and on the behalf of the Trustee and the Holders, and in its own name on the basis of the Parallel Debt in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement;
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(ii) to: (A) accept as its representative (Stellvertreter) any pledge or other creation of any accessory security right granted in favor of the Trustee and/or such Holder in connection with the German Security Agreements and to agree to and execute on its behalf as its representative (Stellvertreter) any amendments and/or alterations to any German Security Agreements or any other agreement related to such Collateral which creates a pledge or any other accessory security right (akzessorische Sicherheit) including the release or confirmation of release of such security; (B) execute on behalf of itself and the Trustee and the Holders where relevant and without the need for any further referral to, or authority from, the Trustee and the Holders or any other person all necessary releases of any such Collateral being subject to the German Security Agreements or any other agreement related to such Collateral; (C) realize such Collateral in accordance with the German Security Agreements or any other agreement securing such Collateral; (D) make, receive all declarations and statements and undertake all other necessary actions and measures which are necessary or desirable in connection with such Collateral or the German Security Agreements or any other agreement securing the Collateral; (E) take such action on its behalf as may from time to time be authorized under or in accordance with the German Security Agreements; and (F) exercise such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are specifically delegated to or conferred upon the Trustee and the Holders under the German Security Agreements together with such powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement;
(iii) to act as its agent (Stellvertreter), and, to the extent possible, releases the Notes Collateral Agent from any restrictions on representing several persons and self-dealing under any applicable law, and in particular from the restrictions of Section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch). The Notes Collateral Agent has the power to grant sub-power of attorney, including the release from the restrictions of section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch).
(i) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by its acceptance of any Notes, each Holder irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent:
(i) in relation to each of the Swiss Security Agreements pursuant to which Liens of a non-accessory (akzessorische) nature is granted (each a “Swiss Non-Accessory Security Agreements”), to hold and administer and, as the case may be, release and realize any such Lien (including any and all benefits in connection with any Swiss Non-Accessory Security Agreements and any and all proceeds of such Lien) on a fiduciary basis (treuhänderisch) for itself (including as joint-credit) and for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement; and
(ii) in relation to each of the Swiss Security Agreements pursuant to which Liens of an accessory (akzessorische) nature is granted (each a “Swiss Accessory Security Agreements”), to hold and administer and, as the case may be, release and realize any such Lien (including any and all benefits in connection with any Swiss Accessory Security Agreements and any and all proceeds of such Lien) for itself (including as joint-creditor) and as direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) in the name and on behalf of each of the Trustee and the Holders and each of the Trustee and the Holders authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent to act as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) in relation to any and all matters in connection with such Swiss Accessory Security Agreements in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.
The Notes Collateral Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers under this paragraph (i) by or through any one or more co-agents, sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact (including the ABL Collateral Agent), and each Holder hereby irrevocably authorizes the Notes
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Collateral Agent to appoint any such co-agent, sub-agent or attorney-in-fact (including the ABL Collateral Agent) for such purposes and confirms that the authority, rights, powers and protections afforded to the Notes Collateral Agent under this paragraph (i) shall apply equally to any such co-agent, sub-agent or attorney-in-fact (including the ABL Collateral Agent) so appointed.
Section 7.09. Replacement of Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent.
(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or a successor Notes Collateral Agent shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s or successor Notes Collateral Agent’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may resign in writing at any time by giving 30 days’ prior notice of such resignation to the Company and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent by so notifying the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent if:
(1) in the case of the Trustee, the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.11;
(2) the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Laws;
(3) a receiver or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, or its property; or
(4) the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent becomes incapable of acting as Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent, respectively, hereunder.
(b) If the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or a successor Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be. Within one year after the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the successor Trustee or the successor Notes Collateral Agent to replace it with another successor Trustee or another successor Notes Collateral Agent appointed by the Company.
(c) If a successor Trustee or a successor Notes Collateral Agent does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent (at the Company’s expense), the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be.
(d) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(e) A successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent shall
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become effective, and the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent to the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent; provided that all sums owing to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder have been paid and such transfer shall be subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 7.09, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent.
(f) As used in this Section 7.09, the term “Trustee” shall also include each Agent.
Section 7.10. Successor by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another entity or national banking association, the successor entity or national banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent.
Section 7.11. Eligibility; Disqualification.
(a) There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
(b) This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b).
Section 7.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.
The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
Section 7.13. Collateral Documents; Intercreditor Agreements.
By their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders hereby authorize and direct the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, to execute and deliver each of the Collateral Documents and each Intercreditor Agreement (including joinder agreements thereto) and any other Collateral Documents in which the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, is named as a party, including any Intercreditor Agreement or Collateral Documents executed on or after the Issue Date and any amendments, joinders or supplements to any Intercreditor Agreement or Collateral Document permitted by this Indenture. It is hereby acknowledged and agreed that, in so doing, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent are not responsible for the terms or contents of such agreements, or for the validity or enforceability thereof, or the sufficiency thereof for any purpose. Whether or not so expressly stated therein, in entering into, or taking (or forbearing from) any action under the Intercreditor Agreements or any other Collateral Documents, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent each shall have all of the rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under this Indenture (in addition to those that may be granted to it under the terms of such other agreement or agreements).
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ARTICLE 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 applied to all outstanding Notes and the Note Guarantees upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
(a) Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to this Indenture, all outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company 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 8.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture, including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(1) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due, solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04;
(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for Note payments held in trust;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(4) this Section 8.02.
(b) Following the Company’s exercise of its Legal Defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
(c) If the Company exercises its Legal Defeasance option under this Section 8.02, the Liens on the Collateral will be released and the Note Guarantees in effect at such time will be automatically released.
(d) Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its Legal Defeasance option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its Covenant Defeasance option under Section 8.03.
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Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.
(a) Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be released from their respective obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.05, 4.06, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 and 4.20 and 5.01(a)(4) with respect to the outstanding Notes, and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Note Guarantees, on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (“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 accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to this Indenture and the outstanding Notes, the Company 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, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture, and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(3) that resulted solely from the failure of the Company to comply with Section 5.01(a)(4), Section 6.01(a)(4) (only with respect to covenants that are released as a result of such Covenant Defeasance), Section 6.01(a)(5) (only with respect to covenants that are released as a result of such Covenant Defeasance), 6.01(a)(6), 6.01(a)(7), 6.01(a)(8) (solely with respect to Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the date of the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries) would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), 6.01(a)(9) and 6.01(a)(10), in each case, shall not constitute an Event of Default.
(b) If the Company exercises its Covenant Defeasance option under this Section 8.03, the Liens on the Collateral will be released and the Note Guarantees in effect at such time will be automatically released.
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
(a) The following shall be the conditions to the exercise of either the Legal Defeasance option under Section 8.02 or the Covenant Defeasance option under Section 8.03 with respect to the Notes:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, due on the outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,
(A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or
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(B) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, the Holders and beneficial owners of Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders and beneficial owners of Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the ABL Facility, the 2026 Notes Indenture, the Second-Out Notes Indenture or any other material agreement or material instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(5) [reserved];
(6) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with; and
(7) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be (which instructions may be contained in the Officer’s Certificate referred to in clause (6) above).
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) Subject to Section 8.06, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(b) The Company will 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 8.04 or
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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.
(c) Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a)), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.06. Repayment to the Company.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee 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 Company cause to be published once, in The New York Times or 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 shall be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, 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 Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, as the case may be; provided that, if the Company makes any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders 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.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 9.02, without the consent of any Holder, the Company, the Guarantors (except that no existing Guarantor will be required to execute any amendment or supplement of this Indenture that solely relates to changes described in Section 9.01(a)(5)), the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may amend this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements) to:
(1) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
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(2) provide for the assumption by a successor entity of the obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements in accordance with Section 5.01;
(3) provide for or facilitate the issuance of uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;
(4) comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary;
(5) add Guarantors with respect to the Notes or release a Guarantor from its obligations under its Note Guarantee or this Indenture, in each case, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture;
(6) secure the Notes and the Note Guarantees;
(7) to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any Lien securing the Notes or the Note Guarantees in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, the Collateral Documents or Intercreditor Agreements;
(8) add covenants of the Company and its Subsidiaries or Events of Default for the benefit of Holders or to make changes that would provide additional rights to the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor;
(9) make any change that does not materially adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements of any Holder;
(10) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with any required qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(11) evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment of a successor Trustee (provided that the successor Trustee is otherwise qualified and eligible to act as such under the terms of this Indenture) or successor notes collateral agent;
(12) conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements to any provision of the “Description of the Second-Out Notes” section of the Registration Statement;
(13) make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes or, if Incurred in compliance with this Indenture, Additional Notes; provided, however, that (A) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (B) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;
(14) to provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(15) to add Collateral with respect to any or all of the Notes and/or the Note Guarantees; or
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(16) to effect such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification, waiver or consent in respect of the First-Out Notes Indenture (or any replacement thereof) that shall apply automatically to this Indenture without the consent of any Holder in accordance with the First-Out/Second-Out Intercreditor Agreement or any applicable Intercreditor Agreement.
(b) The Holders of the Notes will be deemed to have consented for purposes of the Collateral Documents and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements to any of the following amendments, waivers and other modifications to the Collateral Documents and the applicable Intercreditor Agreements:
(1) (A) to add other parties (or any authorized agent thereof or trustee therefor) holding Secured Indebtedness that is Incurred in compliance with the ABL Facility, this Indenture, the Second-Out Notes Indenture, and the Collateral Documents and (B) to establish the priority of the Liens on any Collateral securing such Secured Indebtedness under the applicable Intercreditor Agreement with the Liens on such Collateral securing the Obligations under the ABL Facility, the First-Out Notes Indenture, the First-Out Notes, the guarantees of the First-Out Notes, this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees, and (C) to establish that the Liens on any ABL Priority Collateral securing any Indebtedness replacing the ABL Facility permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture shall be senior to the Liens on such ABL Priority Collateral securing any Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees, and that the Liens on any Notes Priority Collateral securing any such Indebtedness shall be junior to the Liens on such Non- ABL Priority Collateral securing any Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees, all on the terms provided for in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement in effect immediately prior to such amendment or other modification; and all proceeds of the Collateral shall be payable to the Notes Collateral Agent and such representatives for any other Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness then outstanding on a pro rata basis based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and under any other Pari Passu Secured Indebtedness then outstanding, all on the terms provided for in the applicable Intercreditor Agreement in effect immediately prior to such amendment;
(2) to effectuate the release of assets included in the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes in accordance with this Indenture or the Collateral Documents if those assets are (A) owned by a Guarantor and that Guarantor is released from its Note Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or (B) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted or not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture;
(3) to establish that the Liens on any Collateral securing any Indebtedness refinancing any Secured Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.09 shall rank pari passu with the Liens on such Collateral securing the Obligations under such replaced Secured Indebtedness and otherwise conform to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(4) upon any cancellation or termination of the ABL Facility without a replacement thereof, to establish that the ABL Priority Collateral (in addition to the Notes Priority Collateral) shall secure the Obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees on the same basis as the Notes Priority Collateral pursuant to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, subject to the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreements in effect immediately prior to such amendment or other modification;
(5) (i) to add any junior lien secured parties, and the Notes Collateral Agent as senior lien secured party, to any junior lien Intercreditor Agreement and/or (ii) to add any second lien secured parties to any second lien Intercreditor Agreement;
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(6) in the case of any Collateral Document, to include therein any legend required to be set forth therein pursuant to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, or to modify any such legend as required by such Intercreditor Agreement;
(7) with respect to the Intercreditor Agreements then in effect or the Collateral Documents, as provided in the relevant Intercreditor Agreement or Collateral Document, as applicable;
(8) to add Collateral with respect to any or all of the Notes and/or the Notes Guarantees; and
(9) to provide for the succession of any parties to the Collateral Documents, or any applicable Intercreditor Agreement (and any amendments that are administrative or ministerial in nature that do not adversely affect the rights of the Holders in any material way), in connection with an amendment, renewal, extension, substitution, refinancing, restructuring, replacement, supplementing or other modification from time to time of the definitive documentation governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture or any other agreement that is permitted by this Indenture.
(c) Upon the request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 13.04, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders.
(a) Except as provided in Section 9.01 and this Section 9.02 (and subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements), the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) and, subject to Section 6.04 and Section 6.07, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with the purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes). Section 2.09 and Section 2.10 shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.
(b) Upon the request of the Company, and upon delivery to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of the documents described in Section 7.02 and Section 13.04, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral
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Agent may in their discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.
(c) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver. It shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
(d) After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will send to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, supplement or waiver. However, any failure of the Company to send such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.
(e) Without the consent of each affected Holder, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
(1) reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the stated rate of interest or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Note;
(3) reduce the principal of, or extend the Stated Maturity of, any Note;
(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, 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 with respect to a nonpayment default and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(5) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any Note or change the date on which any Note may be redeemed or repurchased as described in Section 3.07, Section 4.15 whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise (except amendments to the definitions of “Change of Control”);
(6) make any Note payable in a currency other than that stated in the Note;
(7) amend the contractual right expressly set forth in this Indenture or the Notes of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;
(8) make any change in the amendment or waiver provisions which require each Holder’s consent; or
(9) modify the Note Guarantees in any manner materially adverse to the Holders.
(f) In addition, and subject to Section 9.02(e)(10), without the consent of Holders of 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding, no amendment, supplement or waiver may (i) modify any Collateral Document or the provisions in this Indenture relating to the Notes dealing with the Collateral Documents in any manner, taken as a whole, materially adverse to the Holders or otherwise release all or substantially all Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes other than in accordance with this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, (ii) modify or waive any of the Guarantor Release Protection Provisions, (iii) modify the Lien priority of the Notes or the Note Guarantees,
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or (iv) modify or change any provision of this Indenture, any Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents that adversely affects the ranking as to right of payment (it being understood that the “right of payment” here refers to contractual ranking) or payment priority of the Notes, except for (a) any “debtor-in-possession” facility (or similar financing under applicable law) or (b) any other Indebtedness for borrowed money so long as a bona fide opportunity to participate in such Indebtedness is offered ratably to all adversely affected Holders on a no less than pro rata basis (other than with respect to customary backstop or similar fees and expense reimbursement).
(g) A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee by any Holder given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender.
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Upon and after, but not before, the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
(a) 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 that is effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
(b) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date pursuant to Section 1.05 for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.
(a) The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
(b) 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 and Notes Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments, etc.
(a) The Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver to this Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be. In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver to this Indenture, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 13.04, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the valid and binding
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obligation of the Company and any Guarantor party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof.
(b) The Notes Collateral Agent shall sign any amendment, supplement, consent or waiver authorized pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents or Intercreditor Agreements in accordance with the terms thereof (including, without limitation, without the further consent or agreement of the Holders if so provided in such Collateral Document or the Intercreditor Agreements or otherwise in accordance with Section 9.01(b) of this Indenture) if the amendment, supplement, consent or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Notes Collateral Agent. In executing any amendment, supplement, consent or waiver to any of the Collateral Documents or the Intercreditor Agreements, the Notes Collateral Agent shall receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement, consent or waiver is authorized or permitted by the applicable Collateral Document and/or the Intercreditor Agreements, as the case may be, and complies with the provisions thereof.
ARTICLE 10
GUARANTEES
Section 10.01. Guarantee.
(a) Subject to this Article 10 and the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, on a senior basis, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (1) the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Company to the Holders, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder or under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall 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 collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations.” Failing payment by the Company when due of any amount so Guaranteed or any performance so Guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
(b) The Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture, or pursuant to Section 10.06.
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(c) Each of the Guarantors also agrees, jointly and severally, to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) Incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.
(d) If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.
(e) Each Guarantor 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 Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (1) the maturity of the obligations Guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of this Note Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations Guaranteed hereby, and (2) 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 the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantees.
(f) Subject to Section 11.07(b), each Note Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition or proceeding be filed by or against the Company or any Guarantor for liquidation or reorganization, should the Company or any Guarantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver, trustee, interim receiver, monitor or other similar official be appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or the Note Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer,” “transfer at undervalue” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
(g) In case any provision of any Note Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
(h) Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Note Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.
(i) The Note Guarantees will be secured by Liens, with the priority of such Liens conforming to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, subject to Permitted Liens, on the Collateral of each applicable Guarantor (which Collateral will also secure the ABL Facility and the Second-Out Notes, with the priority of such Liens in each case conforming to the Lien priorities in any applicable Intercreditor Agreement).
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Section 10.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.
Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a preference, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or a transfer at undervalue for purposes of Bankruptcy Laws, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal, state or foreign law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.
For purposes of disclosure pursuant to the Interest Act (Canada), the annual rates of interest or fees to which the rates of interest or fees provided in this Indenture, the Notes or any Note Guarantee (and stated herein or therein, as applicable, to be computed on the basis of 360 days or any other period of time less than a calendar year) are equivalent are the rates so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in the applicable calendar year and divided by 360 or such other period of time, respectively.
If any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, any Note Guarantee or other obligations arising pursuant to this Indenture would oblige any Canadian Guarantor to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Holder in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by law or would result in a receipt by that Holder of “interest” at a “criminal rate” (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)), then, notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by applicable law or so result in a receipt by that Holder of “interest” at a “criminal rate”, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary (but only to the extent necessary), by reducing the amount or rate of interest, and, thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, costs, expenses, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to the affected Holder which would constitute interest for purposes of section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if a Holder shall have received an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada), the applicable Canadian Guarantor shall be entitled to obtain reimbursement from such Holder in an amount equal to such excess and, pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by such Holder to such Canadian Guarantor.
Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Note Guarantee will 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 based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment, determined in accordance with GAAP.
In particular,
(a) the enforcement of a Note Guarantee granted by any German Guarantor, of any security, of any joint and several liability and of any payment obligations under this Indenture or the other Note Documents (together, the “Enforcement of Claims”) are restricted if and to the extent (i) the enforcement proceeds of an Enforcement of Claims are applied in satisfaction of any liability of such German Guarantor’s direct or indirect shareholder(s) or partners (upstream) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder or partner (verbundenes Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock
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Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (cross-stream) (other than the liabilities of any Subsidiary of the German Guarantor) and (ii) the Enforcement of Claims would cause the amount of the German GmbH Guarantor’s (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) Net Assets, as adjusted pursuant to the following provisions, to fall below the amount of its registered share capital (Stammkapital) (Begrundung einer Unterbilanz) or to increase any already existing capital impairment (Vertiefung einer Unterbilanz) or a violation of sections 30 and 31 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG), (each such event is hereinafter referred to as a “Capital Impairment”). For the purposes of the calculation of a Capital Impairment, the following balance sheet items shall be adjusted as follows:
(i) the amount of any increase of the German GmbH Guarantor’s (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) registered share capital that has been effected after the date of this Agreement (or, if at a later point, the accession thereto by the relevant German Guarantor as a Guarantor) effected without prior written consent of the Trustee shall be deducted from the German GmbH Guarantor’s (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) registered share capital;
(ii) loans provided to the German GmbH Guarantor (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be disregarded if and to the extent such loans are subordinated or are considered subordinated by operation of law at least into the rank pursuant to Section 39 para 2 of the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung);
(iii) loans or other contractual financial liabilities incurred in violation of the provisions of the Note Documents shall be disregarded;
(iv) assets of the German GmbH Guarantor (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner’s) shall be disregarded to the extent profits would be prohibited from distribution pursuant to section 268 paragraph (8) of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch); and
(v) the amount of non-distributable assets according to section 253 paragraph (6) or section 272 paragraph (5) of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch) shall not be included in the calculation of Net Assets.
(vi) the costs of any Auditor’s Determination (as defined below) shall be taken into account in calculating the Net Assets.
In a situation where a Capital Impairment would occur in relation to a German GmbH Guarantor (or, in the case of a German GmbH & Co. KG Guarantor, its general partner) after the Enforcement of Claims, the German Guarantor shall without undue delay (but no later than eight (8) weeks after occurrence of such situation, unless an extension of such period is granted by the Trustee), to the extent legally permitted, dispose of all assets which are not necessary for its business (nicht betriebsnotwendig) where the relevant assets are shown in the balance sheet of the German Guarantor with a book value significantly lower than the market value of such assets (each such asset a “Relevant Asset”), unless such disposal would not be commercially justifiable. The relevant German Guarantor shall, within ten (10) Business Days upon receipt of a written request from the Trustee relating to any Relevant Asset which is not being sold pursuant to the preceding sentence, provide the Trustee with reasonably detailed information as to why it considers the sale of such Relevant Asset not to be commercially justifiable. In the latter case, the relevant German Guarantor and the Trustee will liaise with each other and the relevant German Guarantor shall use
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its reasonable efforts to make further attempts to dispose of such Relevant Asset on more beneficial terms and keep the Trustee informed about its progress on a continuous basis.
The limitation pursuant to this Section 10.02(a) shall apply, subject to the following requirements, if following a notice by a Secured Party that it intends to enforce any payment claim under the Note Guarantee granted by any German Guarantor, any security, any joint and several liability or any payment obligations under this Indenture or the other Note Documents, the German Guarantor notifies the relevant Secured Party (“Management Notification”) within 15 Business Days upon receipt of the relevant demand that a Capital Impairment would occur (setting out in reasonable detail to what extent a Capital Impairment would occur and providing an estimation of the net proceeds realization along with the calculations / information on which such estimate is based, or other measures undertaken in accordance with the mitigation provisions set out above). If the Management Notification is contested by the relevant Secured Party, the German Guarantor undertakes (at its own cost and expense) to arrange for the preparation of a balance sheet by its auditors in order to have such auditors determine whether (and if so, to what extent) any payment under this Note Guarantee or this Indenture would cause a Capital Impairment (the “Auditor’s Determination”). The Auditor’s Determination shall be prepared, taking into account the adjustments set out above in relation to the calculation of a Capital Impairment, by applying the generally accepted accounting principles applicable from time to time in Germany (Grundsatzeordnungsmafiiger Buchfuhrung) based on the same principles and evaluation methods as consistently applied by the German Guarantor in the preparation of its financial statements, in particular in the preparation of its most recent annual balance sheet, and taking into consideration applicable court rulings of German courts. The German Guarantor shall provide the Auditor’s Determination to the relevant Secured Party within twenty-five (25) Business Days from the date on which the relevant Secured Party contested the Management Notification in writing. The Auditor’s Determination shall be binding on the German Guarantor and the Secured Parties.
Notwithstanding the above, the provisions of this Section 10.02(a) shall not apply:
(i) if the German Guarantor is party as dominated entity (beherrschtes Unternehmen) of a Domination Agreement (Beherrschungsvertrag) and/or a profit and loss transfer agreement (Gewinnabfuhrungsvertrag) pursuant to section 30 para 1 sentence 2 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG) with the entity whose liabilities are secured or shall be paid, unless the enforcement of payment claims under the Note Guarantee granted by any German Guarantor, of any security, of any joint and several liability or of any payment obligations under this Indenture or the other Note Documents would cause of violations of section;
(ii) if the German Guarantor has a recourse right (Ruckgriffsanspruch) towards its direct or indirect shareholder(s) or partners (upstream) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder or partner (verbundenes Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (cross-stream) which is fully recoverable (werthaltig) at the time of the Enforcement of Claims; or to any amounts borrowed under the Note Documents to the extent the proceeds of such borrowing are on- lent to the German Guarantor or its Subsidiaries to the extent that any amounts so on-lent are still outstanding at the time the relevant demand is made against the German Guarantor.
(iii) if insolvency proceedings have been opened in relation to that German Guarantor;
(iv) by law, changes in applicable law or applicable court rulings of the Federal Supreme Court the limitations set out in this Section 10.02(a) are not deemed to be longer required to protect the management of the German Guarantor; or
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(v) if the German Guarantor has not complied with its obligations under this Section 10.02(a).
(b) Switzerland
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or any other Notes Document, if and to the extent that a Swiss Guarantor becomes liable under this Indenture or any other Notes Document for obligations other than obligations of one of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries (i.e. obligations of its respective direct or indirect parent companies (up-stream liabilities) or sister companies (cross-stream liabilities)) (the “Restricted Obligations”) and if complying with such obligations would not be permitted under Swiss corporate law then applicable, then such obligations and payment amount shall from time to time be limited to the amount permitted to be paid under applicable Swiss law; provided that such limited amount shall at no time be less than the relevant Swiss Guarantor’s distributable capital (presently being the balance sheet profits and any reserves available for distribution) at the time or times performance of the relevant obligations is due or requested from such Swiss Guarantor, and further provided that such limitation (as may apply from time to time or not) shall not (generally or definitively) release the relevant Swiss Guarantor from its obligations in excess thereof, but merely postpone the payment date therefore until such times as payment is again permitted notwithstanding such limitation.
(ii) In case a Swiss Guarantor who must make a payment in respect of Restricted Obligations under this Indenture or any other Notes Document is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in respect of such payment, such Swiss Guarantor shall:
(1) procure that such payments can be made without deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax, or with deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax at a reduced rate, by discharging the liability to such tax by notification pursuant to applicable law (including double tax treaties) rather than payment of the tax;
(2) if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the rate of 35 per cent. (or such other rate as in force from time to time), or if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) above applies for a part of the Swiss Withholding Tax only, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the reduced rate resulting after the discharge of part of such tax by notification under applicable law, from any payment made by it in respect of Restricted Obligations and promptly pay any such taxes to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (Eidgenössische Steuerverwaltung);
(3) notify the Trustee that such notification, or as the case may be, deduction has been made and provide the Trustee with evidence that such a notification of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration has been made or, as the case may be, such taxes deducted have been paid to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration;
(4) in the case of a deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax:
(A) use its best efforts to ensure that any person other than a Holder which is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment in respect of Restricted Obligations, will, as soon as possible after such deduction (y) request a refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax under applicable law (including tax treaties) and (z) pay to the Trustee upon receipt any amounts so refunded;
and
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(B) if a Holder is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment, and if requested by the Trustee, shall provide the Trustee (on its behalf or on behalf of any Holder) those documents that are required by law and applicable tax treaties to be provided by the payer of such tax, for each relevant Holder, to prepare a claim for refund of Swiss Withholding Tax.
(iii) If a Swiss Guarantor is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in accordance with Section 10.02(b)(ii) above, the Trustee shall be entitled to further enforce the Swiss Guarantor’s obligations and apply proceeds therefrom against the Restricted Obligations up to an amount which is equal to that amount which would have been obtained if no withholding of Swiss Withholding Tax were required, whereby such further enforcements shall always be limited to the maximum amount of the freely distributable reserves of such Swiss Guarantor as set out in paragraph (i) above.
(iv) If and to the extent requested by the Trustee and if and to the extent this is from time to time required under Swiss law (restricting profit distributions), in order to allow the Trustee and the Holders to obtain a maximum benefit under this Indenture or any other Notes Document, as applicable, the relevant Swiss Guarantor shall, and any parent company of such Swiss Guarantor being a party to this Indenture or any other Notes Document shall procure that such Swiss Guarantor will, promptly implement all such measures and/or to promptly procure the fulfilment of all prerequisites allowing the prompt fulfilment of the Swiss Guarantor’s obligations and allowing the relevant Swiss Guarantor to promptly perform its obligations and make the (requested) payment(s) hereunder from time to time, including the following:
(1) preparation of an up-to-date audited balance sheet of the relevant Swiss Guarantor;
(2) confirmation of the auditors of the relevant Swiss Guarantor that the relevant amount represents (the maximum of) freely distributable capital of such Swiss Guarantor;
(3) approval by a shareholders meeting of the relevant Swiss Guarantor of the capital distribution;
(4) if the enforcement of Restricted Obligations would be limited due to the effects referred to in this clause, then the relevant Swiss Guarantor shall to the extent permitted by applicable law write up or realize any of its assets that are shown in its balance sheet with a book value that is significantly lower than the market value of the assets, in case of realization, however, only if such assets are not necessary for the relevant Swiss Guarantor’s business (nicht betriebsnotwendig); and
(5) all such other measures necessary or useful to allow payment under the Swiss Guarantor’s obligations and to allow the relevant Swiss Guarantor to make the payments and perform the obligations agreed hereunder with a minimum of limitations.
Section 10.03. Execution and Delivery.
(a) To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer or person holding an equivalent title.
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(b) Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Note Guarantee on the Notes.
(c) If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note Guarantees shall be valid nevertheless.
(d) The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Note Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
(e) If required by Section 4.11, the Company shall cause any newly created or acquired Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.11 and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.
Section 10.04. Subrogation.
Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Company under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.
Section 10.05. Benefits Acknowledged.
Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the Guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Note Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
Section 10.06. Release of Note Guarantees.
(a) A Note Guarantee by a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, and no further action by such Guarantor, the Company or the Trustee shall be required for the release of such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee, upon:
(1) (A) any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange or other disposition (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise) of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor after which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Subsidiary, which sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, exchange or other disposition is made in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture;
(B) [reserved];
(C) [reserved];
(D) the consent of the Holders in accordance with Article 9;
(E) the Company’s exercise of its Legal Defeasance option or Covenant Defeasance option in accordance with Article 8;
(F) the satisfaction and discharge of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
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(G) such Guarantor becoming an Excluded Subsidiary under the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary”; provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing immediately after giving effect thereto; or
(H) the release, discharge or termination of the guarantee by or direct obligations of such Guarantor under the First-Out Notes Indenture, the ABL Credit Agreement, or in each case, any replacement thereof; and
(2) in the case of clauses (a)(1)(A), (D), (E), (F), (G) and (H) only, the Company delivering to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction or release have been complied with.
(b) At the written request of the Company, the Trustee shall execute and deliver any documents reasonably required in order to evidence such release and discharge in respect of the applicable Guarantee.
(c) In the event that any released Guarantor (in the case of Section 10.06(a)(1)) thereafter borrows money or Guarantees any other Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any Guarantor, the terms of the consent described in Section 10.06(a)(1) may provide that such former Guarantor shall again provide a Note Guarantee if required pursuant to Section 4.11.
ARTICLE 11
COLLATERAL AND SECURITY
Section 11.01. Collateral.
(a) The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and the Note Guarantees when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, interest on the overdue principal of and interest (to the extent permitted by law), if any, on the Notes and the Note Guarantees and performance of all other obligations under this Indenture, including, without limitation, the obligations of the Company set forth in Section 7.07, and the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreements and the Collateral Documents, shall be secured, to the maximum extent permitted by law, as provided in the Collateral Documents, which define the terms of the Liens that secure the Notes and the Note Guarantees, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements. The Holders, by accepting a Note, are deemed to hereby appoint Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the initial Notes Collateral Agent and the Notes Collateral Agent is hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree that the Notes Collateral Agent shall hold the Collateral in trust (or, as the case may be, as direct representative or as creditor in respect of the Parallel Debt) for the benefit of all of the Holders, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.
(b) Each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Note Guarantees, consents and agrees to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral and the automatic amendments, supplements, consents, waivers and other modifications thereto without the consent of the Holders) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and this Indenture and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements on the Issue Date, and any Collateral Documents at any time after the Issue
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Date, if applicable, and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith. In the event of conflict between an Intercreditor Agreement, any of the other Collateral Documents and this Indenture, the applicable Intercreditor Agreement shall control. The Company shall deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent copies of all documents required to be filed pursuant to the Collateral Documents, and will do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be reasonably required by Section 11.04(a), to assure and confirm to the Notes 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.
(c) The Trustee and each Holder, by accepting the Notes and the Note Guarantees, acknowledge that, as more fully set forth in the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of the Notes Collateral Agent, all the Holders and the Trustee, and that the Liens granted on the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents are subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements and actions that may be taken thereunder. Prior to the discharge of the ABL Obligations, to the extent that the ABL Collateral Agent is satisfied with or agrees to any deliveries or documents required to be provided in respect of any matters relating to the ABL Priority Collateral or makes any determination in respect of any matters relating to the ABL Priority Collateral, including, without limitation, extensions of time or waivers for the creation and perfection of security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets (including in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Issue Date and including with respect to any time periods described in the immediately preceding paragraph), the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed to be satisfied with such deliveries, extensions or waivers, and/or documents and the judgment of the ABL Collateral Agent in respect of any such matters under the ABL Facility will be deemed to be the judgment of the Notes Collateral Agent in respect of such matters under this Indenture and the Collateral Documents.
(d) Without limiting the powers of the Notes Collateral Agent, for the purposes of holding any hypothec granted pursuant to the laws of the Province of Quebec, each of the Holders hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Notes Collateral Agent and, to the extent necessary, ratifies the appointment and authorization of the Notes Collateral Agent, to act as the hypothecary representative of the present and future Secured Parties as contemplated under Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Quebec (in such capacity, the “Attorney”), and to enter into, to take and to hold on their behalf, and for their benefit, any hypothec, and to exercise such powers and duties that are conferred upon the Attorney under any related deed of hypothec and applicable law. The Attorney shall: (a) have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise, except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms hereof, all rights and remedies given to the Attorney pursuant to any such deed of hypothec and applicable law, and (b) benefit from and be subject to all provisions hereof with respect to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent mutatis mutandis, including, without limitation, all such provisions with respect to the liability or responsibility to and indemnification by the Holders. Any person who becomes a Holder in accordance with the terms of this Indenture be deemed to have consented to and confirmed the Attorney as the person acting as hypothecary representative holding the aforesaid hypothecs as aforesaid and to have ratified, as of the date it becomes a Holder, all actions taken by the Attorney in such capacity. The substitution of the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 also constitute the substitution of the Attorney.
(e) By its acceptance of any Notes and the Note Guarantees, each Holder directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the ABL Intercreditor Agreement in its capacity as First-Out Notes Collateral Agent (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) on behalf of each Holder.
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Section 11.02. Maintenance of Collateral.
The Company and the Guarantors shall (a) maintain all property that is material to the conduct of their respective businesses in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (b) pay or cause to be paid all taxes required to have been paid by it (including in its capacity as withholding agent), except (i) any taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which the Company or such Guarantor has set aside on its books reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP or (ii) to the extent that the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
The Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies having a financial strength rating of at least A- by A.M. Best Company insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks (including, without limitation, product liability and product recall insurance) as are customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.
Section 11.03. Impairment of Collateral.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any senior Liens and Section 11.07, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, take or knowingly or negligently omit to take, any action which action or omission would or could reasonably be expected to have the result of materially impairing the security interest with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders, unless such action or failure to take action is otherwise permitted by this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreements or the Collateral Documents.
Section 11.04. Further Assurances.
(a) On and after the Issue Date, and subject to the Intercreditor Agreements, the Company shall and shall cause each Guarantor (subject to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement), at their sole expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions which may be necessary, including those the Notes Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request (it being understood that the Notes Collateral Agent is under no obligation or duty to make such request), to create, better assure, preserve, protect, defend and perfect the security interests in the United States and the Specified Jurisdictions and the rights and remedies created under the Collateral Documents for the benefit of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders (subject to Permitted Liens).
(b) On and after the Issue Date, with respect to any property (other than Excluded Property) of the Company or any Guarantors as to which the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders, does not have a perfected Lien, the Company shall and shall cause the applicable Guarantor to promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent such amendments to the Collateral Documents or such other documents as the Notes Collateral Agent deems reasonably necessary or advisable to grant to the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders, a security interest in such property and (ii) take all actions reasonably necessary or advisable to grant to the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders, a perfected first-priority security interest (subject to Liens permitted under Section 4.10) in such property, including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code and PPSA financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Collateral Documents or by law or as may be reasonably requested by the Notes Collateral Agent.
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(c) On and after the Issue Date, with respect to any Subsidiary created or acquired by the Company or any Guarantor, within 30 days of such Person becoming a Subsidiary (or such later date as agreed by the Notes Collateral Agent), (i) the Company shall take all actions (if any) to cause such Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) to comply with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (ii) the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Guarantor to, execute and deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent such amendments to the Collateral Documents as are necessary or advisable, or as the Notes Collateral Agent may reasonably request to grant to the Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders, a perfected first-priority security interest (subject to Liens permitted under Section 4.10) in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by the Company or any Guarantor except to the extent such Capital Stock constitutes an Excluded Property, and (iii) except to the extent constituting Excluded Property, if such Capital Stock is certificated, deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable.
Section 11.05. After-Acquired Property.
Subject to the applicable limitations and exceptions set forth in the Collateral Documents and this Indenture (including with respect to Excluded Property), from and after the Issue Date, if the Company or any Guarantor acquires any After-Acquired Property or if any new Subsidiary becomes a Guarantor, the Company or such Guarantor shall promptly (i) grant a first-priority perfected security interest (subject to Permitted Liens and the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements) upon any such property, as security for the Notes and the Note Guarantees and (ii) execute and deliver such mortgages, deeds of trust, security instruments, financing statements and certificates as shall be necessary to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a perfected security interest, subject only to Permitted Liens, in such After-Acquired Property or in the Collateral of such Guarantor and to have such After-Acquired Property or such Collateral (but subject to the applicable limitations and exceptions set forth in the Collateral Documents and this Indenture) added to the Collateral, and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such After-Acquired Property or Collateral to the same extent and with the same force and effect.
Section 11.06. Real Estate Mortgages and Filings.
(a) With respect to any Material Real Property owned by the Company or a Guarantor in the United States on the Issue Date or acquired by the Company or a Guarantor in the United States after the Issue Date that forms a part of the Collateral (individually and collectively, the “Premises”), by the Issue Date or within thirty (30) days following the date of acquisition (which period may be extended in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company), as applicable:
(1) The Company or such Guarantor shall deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as applicable, for the ratable benefit of itself and the Holders, counterparts of each Mortgage with respect to each such Premises, in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture and/or the Collateral Documents, duly executed by the Company or such Guarantor, suitable for recording in all recording offices, with such terms that are necessary to create a valid and enforceable mortgage lien (and to perfect such lien) at the time of recordation thereof, with the priority required by this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements;
(2) The Notes Collateral Agent shall have received a mortgagee’s title insurance policy insuring (or committing to insure) in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent, and its successors and/or assigns, in the form necessary, with respect to the property purported to be covered by the applicable Mortgage, to insure that the interest created by such Mortgage constitutes valid mortgage liens on the applicable Premises, with the priority required by this Indenture, the Collateral
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Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, free and clear of all Liens, defects and encumbrances, other than Permitted Liens. Any such title policy shall be in amounts equal to the estimated Fair Market Value of the Premises covered thereby, and such policies shall also include, to the extent available, all such customary endorsements and reinsurance as are available in the applicable jurisdiction which are available at commercially reasonable rates in the jurisdiction where the applicable Premises is located; and
(3) The Company or the Guarantors shall deliver to the Notes Collateral Agent with respect to such Premises, surveys of each Premises, local counsel opinions, along with such other documents, instruments, certificates and agreements, and any other documents necessary to comply with Section 11.06(a) and (b).
Section 11.07. Release of Liens on the Collateral.
(a) Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Collateral Documents at any time and from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture, the Company and the Guarantors will be entitled to the release of property and other assets constituting Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes and the Obligations under this Indenture under any one or more of the following circumstances:
(1) to enable the Company and/or one or more Guarantors to consummate the sale, transfer or other disposition (including by the termination of capital leases or the repossession of the leased property in a capital lease by the lessor) of such property or assets (to a Person that is not the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) to the extent permitted by Section 4.16;
(2) in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Guarantee with respect to the Notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the release of the property and assets of such Guarantor;
(3) with respect to any Collateral that is or becomes an “Excluded Property,” upon it becoming an Excluded Property;
(4) in connection with any enforcement action taken by an Authorized Representative in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements or the Collateral Documents; or
(5) as described under Article 9 hereof.
(b) The Liens on the Collateral will be released with respect to the Notes and the Note Guarantees:
(1) in whole, upon payment in full of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest, including premium, if any, on the Notes;
(2) in whole, upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture;
(3) in whole, upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as set forth under Article 8;
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(4) in whole or in part, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents, the Intercreditor Agreements and this Indenture;
(5) in respect of all or substantially all of the Collateral, with the consent of Holders holding 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes);
(6) with respect to assets of a Guarantor upon release of such Guarantor from its Note Guarantee pursuant to the terms hereof;
(7) to enable the disposition of property or other assets that constitute Collateral to the extent not prohibited under Section 4.16; and
(8) upon such property or other asset being released in respect of the Liens securing the Obligations under the First-Out Notes, the ABL Credit Agreement, or in each case, any replacement thereof;
provided that, in the case of any release in whole pursuant to clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this Section 11.07(b), all amounts owing to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantee, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements have been paid prior to such release.
(c) [Reserved].
(d) [Reserved].
(e) The Company and each Guarantor will furnish to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, prior to each proposed release of Collateral pursuant to this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 11.07(a) or 11.07(b)(4) or (5)) or pursuant to the Collateral Documents:
(1) an Officer’s Certificate requesting any such release, filing or other action without recourse, warranty or representation of any kind (express or implied); and
(2) an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, as applicable, to such release have been complied with and that it is permitted for the Trustee and/or the Notes Collateral Agent to execute and deliver the documents requested by the Company in connection with such release and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Company.
(f) Upon compliance by the Company and each Guarantor, as the case may be, with the conditions precedent for any release of Collateral as set forth above, and if required by this Indenture upon delivery by the Company or the Guarantors to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such conditions precedent have been complied with, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall, at the Company’s expense, promptly cause to be released and reconveyed to the Company or the relevant Guarantors, as the case may be, the released Collateral, and take, at the Company’s expense, all other actions reasonably requested by the Company in connection therewith. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any such release undertaken in reliance upon any such Officer’s Certificate, and notwithstanding any term hereof or in any Collateral Document or in the Intercreditor Agreements to the contrary, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to release any such
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Lien and security interest, or execute and deliver any such instrument of release, satisfaction or termination, unless and until it receives such Officer’s Certificate, upon which it shall be entitled to conclusively rely.
Section 11.08. Information Regarding Collateral.
The Company will furnish to the Notes Collateral Agent, with respect to the Company or any Guarantor, promptly (and in any event within 30 days of such change or such longer period as then permitted under the facility (for the purposes of this paragraph, the “controlling facility”) governing that series of Indebtedness for which the “controlling” collateral agent for any applicable Intercreditor Agreement acts as “collateral agent”) written notice of any change in such Person’s (1) corporate or organization name, (2) jurisdiction of organization or formation or the location of its registered office, principal place of business or chief executive office, (3) identity or corporate structure or (4) organizational identification number. The Company and the Guarantors will agree not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings have been made, or will have been made within 30 days following such change (or such longer period as then permitted under the controlling facility) or within any applicable statutory period, under the Uniform Commercial Code and any other applicable laws that are required in the Collateral Documents in order for the Collateral to be made subject to the Lien of the Notes Collateral Agent under the Collateral Documents in the manner and to the extent required by this Indenture or any of the Collateral Documents and shall take all necessary action so that such Lien is perfected with the same priority as immediately prior to such change to the extent required by the Collateral Documents. The Company also agrees promptly to notify the Notes Collateral Agent in writing if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged, destroyed or condemned in a manner which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect.
Section 11.09. Collateral Documents and Intercreditor Agreements.
The provisions in this Indenture relating to Collateral are subject to the provisions of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and, by their acceptance of the Notes, the Holders acknowledge and agree to be bound by the provisions of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements.
Section 11.10. Suits to Protect the Collateral.
Subject to the provisions of Article 7, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee may direct the Notes Collateral Agent to take all actions it determines in order to:
(a) enforce any of the terms of the Collateral Documents; and hereunder.
(b) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Obligations.
Subject to the provisions of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have the power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may determine to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by an 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 Notes Collateral Agent may determine to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral. Nothing in this Section 11.10 shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
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Section 11.11. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Collateral Documents.
Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements, 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.
Section 11.12. Purchaser Protected.
In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property purported to be released hereunder be bound to ascertain the authority of the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the 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 Company or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.
Section 11.13. Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee.
In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article 11 upon the Company or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Company or a Guarantor or of any Officer or Officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article 11; and if the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.
ARTICLE 12
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 12.01. Satisfaction and Discharge.
(a) This Indenture will be discharged, and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes and Note Guarantees issued hereunder, when either:
(1) all Notes that have been authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(2) (A) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Paying Agent, as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
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(B) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);
(C) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by the Company under this Indenture; and
(D) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee and the Paying Agent to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.
(b) In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01(a)(2)(A), the provisions of Section 12.02 and Section 8.06 shall survive.
Section 12.02. Application of Trust Money.
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and Section 8.06, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(b) If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 12.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, the Notes and the Note Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.01; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent, as the case may be.
ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Trust Indenture Act Section 318(c) in respect of Sections of the Trust Indenture Act that are incorporated by reference in this Indenture pursuant to Section 1.04, the imposed duties shall control upon and after, but not before, the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
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Section 13.02. Notices.
(a) Any notice or communication to the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent is duly given if in writing and (1) delivered in person, (2) mailed by first-class mail (certified or registered, return receipt requested), postage prepaid, or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or (3) sent by electronic transmission, to its address set forth below:
if to the Company or any Guarantor:
Fossil Group, Inc.
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
Attention: Randy Hyne, Chief Legal Officer
if to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent:
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Facsimile: 612-217-5651
Attention: Fossil Group, Inc. Administrator
The Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, by like notice, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
(b) All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; on the first date of which publication is made, if by publication; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if mailed by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; when receipt acknowledged, if sent by electronic transmission; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.
(c) Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail (certified or registered, return receipt requested) or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the Note Register or by such other delivery system as the Trustee agrees to accept. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
(d) Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
(e) Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Note, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee), according to the Applicable Procedures, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
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(f) [Reserved].
(g) The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent agree to accept and act upon notice, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by electronic transmission; provided, however, that (1) the party providing such written notice, instructions or directions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in a timely manner, and (2) such originally executed notice, instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such notice, instructions or directions. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s reasonable reliance upon and compliance with such notice, instructions or directions notwithstanding such notice, instructions or directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent notice, instructions or directions.
(h) If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
(i) If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and each Agent at the same time.
Section 13.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).
Section 13.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent:
(a) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05), stating that, in the opinion of the signer(s), all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.05), stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with; provided that subject to Section 5.01(c), no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the addition of a Guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such Guarantor, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit C.
Section 13.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.07 or Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(e) and shall include:
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(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 or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s 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 complied with.
Section 13.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 13.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members, Partners and Shareholders.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or shareholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor (other than the Company in respect of the Notes and each Guarantor in respect of its Note Guarantee) under the Notes, the Note Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
Section 13.08. Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY NOTE GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 13.09. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE 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 NOTES OR THE NOTE GUARANTEES, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS, THE TRUSTEE, THE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT AND HOLDERS, BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF NOTES, 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
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RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE NOTE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 13.10. Force Majeure.
In no event shall either the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, earthquakes, fires, floods, epidemics or pandemics, accidents, labor disputes, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) or communications 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 13.11. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 13.12. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind its successors. All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06.
Section 13.13. 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 13.14. Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. 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.
Section 13.15. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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Section 13.16. PDF Delivery of Signature Pages.
The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by portable document format (“PDF”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 13.17. U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
Section 13.18. Payments Due on Non-Business Days.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, redemption date or repurchase date or the Stated Maturity of the Notes shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Notes) payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, redemption date or repurchase date, or at the Stated Maturity of the Notes, provided that no interest will accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date, repurchase date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
Section 13.19. [Reserved].
Section 13.20. Parallel Debt; Parallel Debt Owed to the Notes Collateral Agent.
This Section 13.20 is included in this Indenture solely for the purpose of ensuring the validity and effect of certain security rights governed by the laws of the Netherlands and Germany granted or to be granted pursuant to the applicable Collateral Documents and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not limit the rights and remedies provided to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent by the other provisions hereof and the provisions of the other Note Documents.
(a) Each of the Note Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to pay to the Notes Collateral Agent as creditor in its own right and not as a representative of the other Secured Parties amounts equal to any amounts owing from time to time by that Note Party to any Secured Party under any Note Document as and when those amounts are due for payment under the relevant Note Document (each such payment undertaking of a Note Party in relation to any individual Secured Party, a “Parallel Debt Undertaking”, and all Parallel Debt Undertakings of each Note Party taken together, its “Parallel Debt”).
(b) Each of the Note Parties and the Notes Collateral Agent acknowledge that the obligations of each Note Party under any Parallel Debt Undertaking are several and are separate and independent from, and shall not in any way limit or affect, the obligations of that Note Party to that relevant Secured Party under any Note Document that corresponds to the relevant Parallel Debt Undertaking (its “Corresponding Debt”) nor shall the amounts for which each Note Party is liable under any Parallel Debt Undertaking be limited or affected in any way by its Corresponding Debt provided that:
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(1) the Notes Collateral Agent shall not demand payment with regard to the Parallel Debt Undertaking of a Note Party to the extent that the relevant Holder’s Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged;
(2) a Secured Party shall not demand payment with regard to the Corresponding Debt of a Note Party to the extent that such Note Party’s Parallel Debt Undertaking has been irrevocably paid or (in the case of guarantee obligations) discharged.
(3) each Parallel Debt Undertaking shall cover, in an anticipatory manner as to its scope, any future changes in the relevant Corresponding Debt, in particular any such changes resulting from any future increase of any loan or note facility, any future extension of the agreed maturity thereof or any future change of the interest rate charged thereunder;
(4) the Parallel Debt shall be decreased to the extent that the Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably paid or discharged (other than, in each case, contingent obligations) and the Corresponding Debt shall be decreased to the extent that the Parallel Debt has been irrevocably paid or discharged;
(5) each Parallel Debt Undertaking shall be due and payable at any time from the date of this Indenture in an amount which equals the amount and currency or currencies of the relevant Corresponding Debt that is due and payable at the same time as the relevant Corresponding Debt; and
(6) each Parallel Debt Undertaking shall remain effective notwithstanding any transfer or assumption of its Corresponding Debt in whole or in part to or by any third party, irrespective of whether any such transfer or assumption is effected by way of assignment or assignment and transfer by way of assumption of contract or otherwise.
(c) The Notes Collateral Agent acts in its own name and not as a trustee, and its claims in respect of the Parallel Debt shall not be held on trust. The Collateral under the Collateral Documents granted under the Note Documents to the Notes Collateral Agent to secure the Parallel Debt Undertakings is granted to the Notes Collateral Agent in its capacity as creditor of each Parallel Debt Undertaking and shall not be held on trust.
(d) All monies received or recovered by the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 13.20, and all amounts received or recovered by the Notes Collateral Agent from or by the enforcement of any collateral under the Collateral Documents granted to secure any Parallel Debt Undertaking, shall be applied in accordance with this Indenture.
(e) Without limiting or affecting the Notes Collateral Agent’s rights against the Note Parties (whether under this Section 13.20 or under any other provision of the Note Documents), each Holder acknowledges that:
(1) nothing in this Section 13.20 shall impose any obligation on the Notes Collateral Agent to advance any sum to any Holder or otherwise under any Note Document, except in its capacity as lender;
(2) for the purpose of any vote taken under any Note Document, the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be regarded as having any participation or commitment other than those which it has in its capacity as a lender; and
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(3) for purposes of any Dutch Security Agreement, any resignation by the Notes Collateral Agent is not effective with respect to its rights under the Parallel Debt until all rights and obligations under the Parallel Debt have been assigned to and assumed by the successor agent appointed in accordance with this Indenture.
(f) The Notes Collateral Agent will reasonably cooperate in transferring its rights and obligations under the Parallel Debt to a successor agent in accordance with this Indenture and will reasonably cooperate in transferring all rights and obligations under any Collateral Document to such successor agent. All parties to this Indenture hereby, in advance, irrevocably grant their cooperation (medewerking) to such transfers of rights and obligations by the Notes Collateral Agent to a successor agent in accordance with this Indenture.
Section 13.21. Judgment Currency.
(a) If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in one currency into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, under applicable law that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase the first currency with such other currency in the city in which it normally conducts its foreign exchange operation for the first currency on the Business Day preceding the day on which final judgment is given.
(b) The obligation of the Note Parties in respect of any sum due from them to the Trustee or any Holder hereunder 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 Indenture (the “Indenture Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Trustee of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Indenture Currency the Trustee may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Indenture Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of Indenture Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Trustee in the applicable agreement currency, the Note Parties agree notwithstanding any such judgment to indemnify the Trustee against such loss, and if the amount of the Indenture Currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to the Trustee, the Trustee agrees to remit to the Note Parties such excess.
[Signatures on following page]
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| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |
| FOSSIL GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: President | |
| FOSSIL CANADA INC.<br><br><br>FOSSIL INTERMEDIATE, INC.<br> <br>FOSSIL<br>STORES I, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer | |
| FOSSIL TRUST | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer and Trustee |
[Signature Page toSecond-Out Notes Indenture]
| FOSSIL PARTNERS, L.P.<br><br><br>By: Fossil Group, Inc., its General Partner | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |
[Signature Page toSecond-Out Notes Indenture]
| FOSSIL (OPE) GMBH |
|---|
| By: |
All values are in Euros.
[Signature Page toSecond-Out Notes Indenture]
| FOSSIL (UK) LIMITED<br>FOSSIL (UK) HOLDINGS LIMITED |
|---|
| By: |
| FOSSIL OPE B.V. |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL GROUP OPE GMBH<br>SWISS TECHNOLOGY HOLDING GMBH |
| By: |
| By: |
All values are in Euros.
[Signature Page toSecond-Out Notes Indenture]
| WILIMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,<br><br><br>as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Jane Schweiger |
| Name: Jane Schweiger | |
| Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page toSecond-Out Notes Indenture]
APPENDIX A
PROVISIONS RELATING TO NOTES
Section 1.1 Definitions.
(a) Capitalized Terms.
Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Appendix A have the meanings given to them in this Indenture. The following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Global Note, Euroclear or Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.
“Distribution Compliance Period,” means, with respect to any Note, the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Note is first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Company to the Trustee, and (b) the date of issuance with respect to such Note or any predecessor of such Note.
“IAI” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and is not a QIB.
“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.
“RegulationS” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
“United States” means the United States of America.
“Unrestricted Global Note” means any Note in global form that does not bear or is not required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
“U.S. person” means a “U.S. person” as defined in Regulation S.
(b) Other Definitions.
| Term | Defined in Section |
|---|---|
| “Agent Members” | 2.1(b) |
| “Definitive Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) |
| “ERISA Legend” | 2.2(e) |
| “Global Note” | 2.1(a) |
| “Global Notes Legend” | 2.2(e) |
Appendix A-1
| Term | Defined in Section |
|---|---|
| “IAI Global Note” | 2.1(a) |
| “Regulation S Global Note” | 2.1(a) |
| “Regulation S Notes” | 2.1(a) |
| “Restricted Notes Legend” | 2.3(d) |
| “Rule 144A Global Note” | 2.1(a) |
| “Rule 144A Notes” | 2.1(a) |
Section 2.1 Form and Dating
(a) Global Notes.
If Additional Notes are issued pursuant to a private placement exempted from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof, the initial purchasers of such Notes may choose to initially hold them in the form of Notes that may be (i) transferred to and held by “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144) (the “Rule 144A Notes”) or (ii) transferred to and held by a Person that is not a U.S. person in offshore transactions pursuant to Regulation S (the “Regulation S Notes”).
Rule 144A Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and the Restricted Notes Legend (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”).
Regulation S Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more global Notes in fully registered form without interest coupons bearing the Global Notes Legend, the Restricted Notes Legend and the Regulation S Global Notes Legend (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Note”), which shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the Depository for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided. The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note that are held by participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.
Unrestricted Global Notes shall be issued in the form of one or more global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend (collectively, the “Unrestricted Global Note”).
One or more global Notes in definitive fully registered form without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and the Restricted Notes Legend (collectively, the “IAI Global Note”)
Each of the Rule 144A Global Note, the IAI Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note and any Unrestricted Global Note are each referred to herein as a “Global Note” and are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes.”
Global Notes issued on the Issue Date shall be deposited with the Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture, including, in the case of the IAI Global Note to accommodate transfers of beneficial interests in the Notes to IAIs subsequent to the initial distribution.
Appendix A-2
Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests and Transfers of Principal in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.07 of this Indenture and Section 2.2(c) of this Appendix A.
(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.
The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b) and 3 of this Indenture and pursuant to an order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Custodian.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee as Custodian or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.
(c) Definitive Notes. Except as provided in Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 of this Appendix A, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.
Section 2.2 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request:
(i) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or
(ii) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations,
the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:
(1) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and
Appendix A-3
(2) in the case of Transfer Restricted Notes, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Section 2.2(b) of this Appendix A or otherwise in accordance with the Restricted Notes Legend, and are accompanied by a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto.
(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a DefinitiveNote for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, together with:
(i) a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto; and
(ii) written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase,
the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If the applicable Global Note is not then outstanding, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate, upon an Authentication Order, a new applicable Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.
(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2.2(d) of this Appendix A, if any) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in such Global Note, or another Global Note and such account shall be credited in accordance with such order with a beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.
(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the
Appendix A-4
Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix A (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.3 of this Appendix A), a Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole and not in part if the transfer is 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.
(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Global Notes; Voluntary Exchange of Interests in Transfer Restricted GlobalNotes for Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.
(i) Transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through another Transfer Restricted Global Note shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and only upon receipt by the Trustee of a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto. In addition, in the case of a transfer of a beneficial interest in either a Regulation S Global Note or a Rule 144A Global Note for an interest in an IAI Global Note, the transferee must furnish a signed letter substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Trustee.
(ii) During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear or Clearstream in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, the Restricted Notes Legend on such Regulation S Global Note and any applicable securities laws of any state of the U.S. Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note shall be made only in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification from the transferor of the beneficial interest in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers. Such written certification shall no longer be required after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period. Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note shall be transferable in accordance with applicable law and the other terms of the Indenture.
(iii) Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note upon certification in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for an exchange from a Regulation S Global Note to an Unrestricted Global Note.
(iv) Beneficial interests in a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A) and/or upon delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.
Appendix A-5
(v) If no Unrestricted Global Note is outstanding at the time of a transfer contemplated by the preceding clauses (iii) and (iv), the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon an Authentication Order, a new Unrestricted Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(vi) In the case of a Global Note, so long as such Notes are registered in the name of the Depositary or the Trustee, (a) the holders of beneficial interests in the Notes evidenced thereby shall have no rights under the Notes with respect to such Notes held on their behalf by the Depositary or the Trustee, as the case may be, and (b) the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Notes for all purposes whatsoever, except, in each case, to the extent set forth herein. Accordingly, any such owner’s beneficial interest in the Global Notes will be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or the Agent Members, and neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility with respect to such records maintained by the Depositary or the Agent Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall (i) prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or (ii) impair, as between the Depositary and the Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note. Except as otherwise may be provided in this Indenture, the rights of beneficial owners in a Global Note shall be exercised through the Depositary subject to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary. Any holder of any Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that (x) ownership of a beneficial interest in the Notes represented thereby shall be required to be reflected in book-entry form and (y) the transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture and the Notes and the procedures of the Depositary therefor.
(e) Legends.
(i) Except as permitted by Section 2.2(d), this Section 2.2(e) and Section 2.2(i) of this Appendix A, each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes (other than the Unrestricted Global Note) and the Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof but other than any Unrestricted Definitive Note) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only) (“Restricted Notes Legend”):
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO FOSSIL GROUP, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT
Appendix A-6
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) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.
Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Definitive Notes Legend”):
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
Each Global Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Global Notes Legend”):
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
Each Regulation S Global Note shall bear the following additional legend (the “Regulation S Global Notes Legend”):
Appendix A-7
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
Each Note, if applicable, shall bear the following additional legend (“ERISA Legend”):
BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER THEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF ANY (A) “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”) WHICH IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA, (B) PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT DESCRIBED IN SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), WHICH IS SUBJECT TO THE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR ANY OTHER U.S. OR NON-U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (COLLECTIVELY, “SIMILAR LAWS”), OR (C) ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE THE ASSETS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING DESCRIBED IN CLAUSES (A) AND (B), PURSUANT TO ERISA, ANY SIMILAR LAWS OR OTHERWISE, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN WILL NOT CONSTITUTE OR RESULT IN A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.
(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and the Definitive Notes Legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A) and provides such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.
(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Notes or Additional Notes during the period of the effectiveness of a shelf registration statement with respect to such Initial Notes or Additional Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Notes Legend on such Initial Notes or Additional Notes shall cease to apply and the requirements that any such Initial Notes or Additional Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply.
(iv) Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by the Depositary to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred
Appendix A-8
in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Registrar (if it is then the Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Registrar or the Custodian, to reflect such reduction.
(g) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.
(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 or at the Registrar’s request
(ii) No service charge shall be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange (other than pursuant to Section 2.08 of this Indenture), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06, 4.15, 4.16 and 9.05 of this Indenture).
(iii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(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 Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(v) In order to effect any transfer or exchange of an interest in any Transfer Restricted Note for an interest in a Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and has not been registered under the Securities Act, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel, in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that no registration under the Securities Act is required in respect of such exchange or transfer or the resale of such interest by the beneficial holder thereof, shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar and the Trustee.
(h) No Obligation of the Trustee.
(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon
Appendix A-9
information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section 2.3 Definitive Notes.
(a) A Global Note deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 may be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.2 of this Appendix A and the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in each case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or after the Company becomes aware of such cessation. In addition, any Affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor that is a beneficial owner of all or part of a Global Note may have such Affiliate’s beneficial interest transferred to such Affiliate in the form of a Definitive Note by providing a written request to the Company and the Trustee and such Opinions of Counsel, certificates or other information as may be required by this Indenture or the Company or Trustee.
(b) Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.2(e) of this Appendix A, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
(c) The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.
(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.3(a) of this Appendix A, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in fully registered form without interest coupons.
Appendix A-10
APPENDIX B
POST-CLOSING MATTERS
| 1. | The Note Parties shall deliver, (or cause to be delivered) to the Collateral Agent duly executed Control<br>Agreements or evidence of other control arrangements as required by clause (a) of the definition of Collateral and Guarantee Requirement. |
|---|
Appendix B-1
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]
[Insert the Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the Global Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the Definitive Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the Regulation S Global Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.]
[Insert the ERISA Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.]
Exhibit A-1
[CUSIP [ ]
ISIN [ ]^1^]^2^
[RULE 144A][REGULATION S][IAI][GLOBAL]
7.500% Second-Out Second Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029
No. [RA- ] [RS- ] [RIAI- ] [U- ] [Up to]^3^ [$ ]
FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
promises to pay to [●]^4^ [ ] or registered assigns the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests and Transfers of Principal in the Global Note attached hereto]^5^ [of $ ( Dollars)]^6^ on June 30, 2029.
Interest Payment Dates: March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15
Record Dates: March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1
| 1 | Rule 144A Note CUSIP: | [●] |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 144A Note ISIN: | [●] | |
| Regulation S Note CUSIP: | [●] | |
| Regulation S Note ISIN: | [●] | |
| IAI Note CUSIP: | [●] | |
| IAI Note ISIN: | [●] | |
| Unrestricted Note CUSIP: | [●] | |
| Unrestricted Note ISIN: | [●] | |
| 2 | Include in Global Notes | |
| 3 | Include in Global Notes. | |
| 4 | Include in Global Notes | |
| 5 | Include in Global Notes | |
| 6 | Include in Definitive Notes |
Exhibit A-2
IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Title: Authorized Signatory | |
| Dated: |
Exhibit A-3
[Reverse Side of Note]
7.500% Second-Out Second Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. INTEREST. Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest (subject to paragraph 2 of this Section 1) on the principal amount of this Note at 7.500% per annum until but excluding maturity. The Company shall pay interest quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, beginning on March 15, 2026 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”). Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the Issue Date; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be March 15, 2026. The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Laws) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Laws) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
2. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company shall pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.13 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. Principal, premium, if any, and cash interest (in accordance with the terms hereof) on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Company, payment of cash interest and premium, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the Note Register; provided that, in the case of all cash payments, payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal, premium, if any, and cash interest on all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent at least five Business Days prior to the applicable payment date. Such cash payments shall be in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
4. INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under a Senior Secured Notes Indenture, dated as of [___] (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), among Fossil Group, Inc., the Guarantors named therein, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Company designated as its 7.500% Second-Out Second Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029. The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 and 4.09 of the Indenture. The Notes and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of such terms. Any term used in this Note that is defined in the Indenture shall have the
Exhibit A-4
meaning assigned to it in the Indenture. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
5. REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE. The Notes are subject to optional redemption, and may be the subject of an Offer to Purchase, as further described in the Indenture. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
6. DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1.00 and integral multiples of $1.00 in excess thereof. 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, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and Holders shall be required to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption or tendered for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part.
7. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.
8. AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. The Indenture, the Note Guarantees or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.
9. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights and obligations of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders shall be as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
10. AUTHENTICATION. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual, electronic or facsimile signature of the Trustee.
11. GOVERNING LAW. THIS NOTE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
12. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, TO THE NON- EXCLUSIVE 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 NOTES OR THE NOTE GUARANTEES, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS, THE TRUSTEE AND THE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT 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, THE NOTE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
13. CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN
Exhibit A-5
numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
14. SECURITY. The Notes and the Note Guarantees will be secured by the Collateral on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and the Collateral Documents. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, hold the Collateral in trust for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders, in each case pursuant to the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements. Each Holder, by accepting this Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and the Indenture and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, and to perform its obligations thereunder in accordance therewith.
15. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the liens and security interests securing the Obligations evidenced by this Note, the exercise of any right or remedy with respect thereto, and certain of the rights of the Holder hereof are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements. In the event of any conflict between the terms of any Intercreditor Agreement and this Note, the terms of the applicable Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.
The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Company at the following address:
Fossil Group, Inc.
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
Attention: Randy Hyne, Chief Legal Officer
Exhibit A-6
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:
(Insert assignee’s legal name)
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date:
| Your Signature: | |
|---|---|
| (Sign exactly as your name appears | |
| on the face of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee*
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
Exhibit A-7
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES
This certificate relates to $ principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)
☐ book-entry or ☐ definitive form by the undersigned.
The undersigned (check one box below):
| ☐ | has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global<br>Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with<br>the Indenture; or |
|---|---|
| ☐ | has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.<br> |
| --- | --- |
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ | to the Company or subsidiary thereof; or |
|---|---|---|
| (2) | ☐ | to the Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or |
| (3) | ☐ | pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “SecuritiesAct”); or |
| (4) | ☐ | to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule<br>144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case<br>pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or |
| (5) | ☐ | pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United<br>States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream);<br>or |
| (6) | ☐ | to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the<br>Securities Act) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or |
| (7) | ☐ | pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or |
| (8) | ☐ | pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. |
Exhibit A-8
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5), (6), (7) or (8) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Date:
| Your Signature: | |
|---|---|
| (Sign exactly as your name appears | |
| on the face of this Note) | |
| Signature of Signature Guarantee* |
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Date:
| NOTICE: To be executed by an executive<br>officer |
|---|
| Name: |
| Title: |
Signature Guarantee*
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
Exhibit A-9
TO BE COMPLETED IF THE HOLDER REQUIRES AN EXCHANGE FROM A REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE TO AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2(D)(III) OF APPENDIX A TO THE INDENTURE
The undersigned represents and warrants that either:
| ☐ | the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a<br>non-U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); or |
|---|---|
| ☐ | the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a U.S. person (within the meaning<br>of Regulation S under the Securities Act) who purchased interests in the Notes pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act; or |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | the undersigned is a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and the interest of the undersigned in this<br>Note does not constitute the whole or a part of an unsold allotment to or subscription by such dealer for the Notes. |
| --- | --- |
Date:
| Your Signature: |
|---|
Exhibit A-10
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.15 or Section 4.16 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
☐ Section 4.15 ☐ Section 4.16
If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.15 or Section 4.16 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
$ (integral multiples of $1.00,
provided that the unpurchased portion must be in a minimum principal amount of $1.00)
Date:
| Your Signature: | |
|---|---|
| (Sign exactly as your name appears | |
| on the face of this Note) | |
| Tax Identification No.: |
Signature Guarantee*
* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
Exhibit A-11
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS AND TRANSFERS
OF PRINCIPAL IN THE GLOBAL NOTE
The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $ . 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<br><br><br>Exchange<br> <br>orIncrease | Amount of<br><br><br>decrease inPrincipal<br><br><br>Amount of thisGlobal Note | Amount of<br><br><br>increase in<br><br><br>Principal<br> <br>Amount ofthisGlobal Note | Principal<br><br><br>Amount of thisGlobal Note<br><br><br>following suchdecrease or<br><br><br>increase | Signature ofauthorized<br><br><br>signatory or<br> <br>Trustee,Depositaryor Custodian |
|---|
Exhibit A-12
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF
TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION
Fossil Group, Inc.
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
Attention: Randy Hyne, Chief Legal Officer
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[ ] principal amount of the 7.500% Second-Out Second Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) of Fossil Group, Inc. (the “Company”).
Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:
| Name: |
|---|
| Address: |
| Taxpayer ID Number: |
The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:
1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor”, and we are acquiring the Notes, for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We 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 invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.
2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes only in accordance with the Restricted Notes Legend (as such term is defined in the indenture under which the Notes were issued) on the Notes and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (e) of the Restricted Notes Legend, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Company and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Company and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer of the Notes with respect to applicable transfers described in the Restricted Notes Legend to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee.
Exhibit B-1
| TRANSFEREE | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
Exhibit B-2
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS
Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of [ ] [ ], 20[ ], among Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), [ ] (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of the Company, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and notes collateral agent (in such capacity, the “NotesCollateral Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, each of the Company and the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an indenture dated as of [___] (as may be further amended from time to time, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of 7.500% Second-Out Second Lien Secured Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally Guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:
1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. Guarantor. The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to be a Guarantor under the Indenture and to be bound by the terms of the Indenture applicable to Guarantors, including Article 12 thereof.
3. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
4. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
5. Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Exhibit C-1
6. The Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent makes any representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.
7. Guarantee Limitations Language. [To be inserted if applicable based onjurisdiction].
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| [NAME OF GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY] | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL<br><br><br>ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,<br> <br><br><br><br>as Notes Collateral Agent | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
Exhibit C-2
EX-4.5
Exhibit 4.5
Execution Version
WARRANT AGENCY AGREEMENT
WARRANT AGENCY AGREEMENT, dated as of November 13, 2025 (the “Agreement”), by and between Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Computershare”) and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, together as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, in connection with the Company’s (i) out-of-court private exchange (the “Private Exchange”) with certain holders (the “Consenting Noteholders”) of the Company’s outstanding 7.00% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Exchange Notes”) for certain new securities and (ii) registered exchange offer (the “Public Exchange Offer” and together with the Private Exchange, the “Exchange Transaction”) of any and all of the outstanding Existing Notes held by holders other than the Consenting Noteholders for certain classes of new secured senior notes due 2029, the Company is issuing certain warrants (the “Initial Warrants”) to purchase, in the aggregate up to 3,000,000 shares of the Company common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) or Pre-Funded Warrants (as defined herein); and
WHEREAS, upon the terms and conditions of the Warrant Certificates (as hereinafter defined), the Company wishes to issue the Initial Warrants and, upon exercise of any Initial Warrants for Pre-Funded Warrants, the Pre-Funded Warrants, each in book-entry form entitling the respective holders of the Warrants (as herein defined) (the “Holders”, which term shall include a Holder’s transferees, successors and assigns and “Holder” shall include, if the Warrants are held in “street name”, a Participant (as defined below) or a designee appointed by such Participant); and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing so to act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, exercise and replacement of the Warrants and coordinate with the Company’s transfer agent for the delivery of the Warrant Shares (as defined below).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, all capitalized terms not herein defined shall have the meanings hereby indicated:
(a) “Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(b) “Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.
(c) “Close of Business” on any given date means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, it means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(d) “Common Warrant Certificate” means each certificate in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1, representing such number of Warrant Shares as is indicated therein, provided that any reference to the delivery of a Warrant Certificate in this Agreement shall include delivery of a Definitive Certificate or a Global Warrant.
(e) “Exercise Price” means, subject to any adjustment pursuant to the terms of the applicable Warrant Certificates: (i) with respect to the exercise of Initial Warrants (A) into Warrant Shares, $0.50 per Warrant Share, or (B) into Pre-Funded Warrants, $0.49 per Pre-Funded Warrant; and (ii) with respect to the Pre-Funded Warrants, $0.01 per Warrant Share.
(f) “Person” means an individual, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or governmental agency or other entity.
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(g) “Pre-Funded Warrant Certificate” means each certificate in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 2, representing such number of Warrant Shares as is indicated therein, provided that any reference to the delivery of a Warrant Certificate in this Agreement shall include delivery of a Definitive Certificate or a Global Warrant.
(h) “Pre-Funded Warrants” means a pre-funded warrant to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Warrant Shares as to which a Common Warrant is being exercised in the form of a Pre-Funded Warrant Certificate.
(i) “Registration Statement” means that certain Registration Statement on Form S-4 and/or Form S-3, providing for the registration of the Public Exchange Offer.
(j) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(k) “Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE MKT LLC, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
(l) “Warrant Certificates” means, collectively, the Common Warrant Certificate and Pre-Funded Warrant Certificate.
(m) “Warrant Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Warrant.
(n) “Warrants” means, collectively, the Initial Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants.
All other capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Warrant Certificates.
Section 2. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the express terms and conditions hereof (and no implied terms or conditions), and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment.
Section 3. Global Warrants.
(a) The Initial Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants shall each be registered securities and shall each be evidenced by (1) in the case of Initial Warrants issued in the Public Exchange Offer and Pre-Funded Warrants issued upon exercise thereof (collectively, “Public Warrants”), a global warrant (each, a “Global Warrant”), in the form of the Common Warrant Certificate and Pre-Funded Warrant Certificate, respectively, which shall be deposited with the Warrant Agent and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”), or as otherwise directed by the Depositary, and (2) in the case of Initial Warrants issued in the Private Exchange and Pre-Funded Warrants issued upon exercise thereof (collectively, “Private Warrants”), either in the form of a Global Warrant or Definitive Certificate (as defined below), as the Company and the Holders thereof shall reasonably agree. Ownership of beneficial interests in any Global Warrant, shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by (i) the Depositary or its nominee for each Global Warrant or (ii) institutions that have accounts with the Depositary (each such institution, with respect to a Global Warrant in its account, a “Participant”).
(b) If the Depositary subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for any of the Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that any of the Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have such Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation such Global Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to each such Holder a Definitive Certificate. In such event, the transfer, exchange, or exercise of such Warrants shall be conducted in accordance with the customary procedures of the Warrant Agent.
(c) A Holder has the right to elect at any time or from time to time a Warrant Exchange (as defined below) pursuant to a Warrant Certificate Request Notice (as defined below), provided no such right may be exercised on or following the tenth (10th) Business Day prior to the expiration of the Warrant. Upon written notice by a Holder to the Company and the Warrant Agent for the exchange of some or all of such Holder’s Global Warrants for a separate certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1, with respect to a Holder of Initial Warrants and Exhibit 2 with respect
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to a Holder of Pre-Funded Warrants (the “Definitive Certificate”), evidencing the same number of Initial Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, which request shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 2, properly completed and duly executed (a “Warrant Certificate Request Notice” and the date of delivery of such Warrant Certificate Request Notice by the Holder, the “Warrant Certificate Request Notice Date” and the surrender by the Holder to the Warrant Agent of a number of Global Warrants for the same number of Initial Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants evidenced by a Warrant Certificate, a “Warrant Exchange”), the Company and the Warrant Agent shall promptly effect the Warrant Exchange and the Company shall promptly issue and deliver, at the expense of the Company, to the Holder a Definitive Certificate, for such number of Warrants in the name set forth in the Warrant Certificate Request Notice. Such Definitive Certificates shall be dated the original issue date of the Initial Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants, shall be executed manually or via facsimile by an authorized signatory of the Company, shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2, as applicable, and shall be reasonably acceptable in all respects to such Holder. In connection with a Warrant Exchange, the Company agrees to deliver the Definitive Certificate, to the Holder within ten (10) Business Days of the Warrant Certificate Request Notice pursuant to the delivery instructions in the Warrant Certificate Request Notice (“Warrant Certificate Delivery Date”). If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder a Definitive Certificate subject to the Warrant Certificate Request Notice by the Warrant Certificate Delivery Date, other than a failure caused by the Holder or its broker, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares evidenced by such Definitive Certificate (based on the VWAP (as defined in the Warrants) of the shares of Common Stock on the Warrant Certificate Request Notice Date), $5 per Business Day for each Business Day after such Warrant Certificate Delivery Date until such Definitive Certificate is delivered or, prior to delivery of such Warrant Certificate, the Holder rescinds such Warrant Exchange. The Warrant Agent shall have no liability for the Company’s failure to deliver to the Holders the Warrant Certificate as set forth in this Section 3(c). The Company covenants and agrees that, upon the date of delivery of the Warrant Certificate Request Notice, the Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of the Definitive Certificate, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Definitive Certificate shall be deemed for all purposes to contain all of the terms and conditions of the Initial Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, evidenced by such Warrant Certificate, and the terms of this Agreement, other than Section 3(c), 3(d), 9, 14, 15, 16, and 17 herein, shall not apply to the Warrants evidenced by the Definitive Certificate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event of inconsistency between any provision in this Agreement and any provision in a Definitive Certificate, as it may from time to time be amended, the terms of such Definitive Certificate shall control; provided that all rights, duties, obligations, liabilities and immunities of the Warrant Agent shall be governed and controlled by this Agreement.
(d) Except in the event that Definitive Certificates are delivered pursuant to Section 3(b) because the Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Warrants available in, book-entry form, a Holder of a Definitive Certificate (pursuant to a Warrant Exchange or otherwise) has the right to elect at any time or from time to time a Global Warrants Exchange (as defined below) pursuant to a Global Warrants Request Notice (as defined below). Upon written notice by a Holder to the Company for the exchange of some or all of such Holder’s Warrants evidenced by a Definitive Certificate for a beneficial interest in Global Warrants held in book-entry form through the Depositary evidencing the same number of Initial Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, which request shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 4, properly completed and duly executed (a “Global Warrants Request Notice” and the date of delivery of such Global Warrants Request Notice by the Holder, the “Global Warrants Request Notice Date” and the surrender upon delivery by the Holder of the Warrants evidenced by Definitive Certificates for the same number of Initial Warrants or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, evidenced by a beneficial interest in Global Warrants held in book-entry form through the Depositary, a “Global Warrants Exchange”), the Company shall promptly effect the Global Warrants Exchange and shall promptly direct the Warrant Agent to issue and deliver to the Holder Global Warrants for such number of Warrants in the Global Warrants Request Notice, which beneficial interest in such Global Warrants shall be delivered by the Depositary’s Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system to the Holder pursuant to the instructions in the Global Warrants Request Notice. In connection with a Global Warrants Exchange, the Company shall direct the Warrant Agent to deliver the beneficial interest in such Global Warrants to the Holder within ten (10) Business Days of the Global Warrants Request Notice pursuant to the delivery instructions in the Global Warrant Request Notice (“Global Warrants Delivery Date”). If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder Global Warrants subject to the Global Warrants Request Notice by the Global Warrants Delivery Date, other than a failure caused by the Holder or its broker, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares evidenced by such Global Warrants (based on the VWAP (as defined in the Warrants) of the shares of Common Stock on the Global Warrants Request Notice Date), $10 per Business Day (increasing to $20 per Business Day on the fifth Business Day after such liquidated damages begin to accrue) for each Business Day after such Global Warrants Delivery Date until such Global Warrants are delivered or, prior to delivery of such Global Warrants, the Holder rescinds such Global Warrants Exchange. The Warrant Agent shall have no liability for the Company’s failure to deliver the Global Warrants to the Holders as set forth in this Section 3(d). The Company covenants and agrees that, upon the date of delivery of the Global Warrants Request Notice, the Holder shall be deemed to be the beneficial holder of such Global Warrants.
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(e) The Company shall provide an opinion of counsel on or prior to the issuance of the Warrants that shall state that all Warrants or Warrant Shares, as applicable: (i) were offered, sold or issued as part of an offering that was registered in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act; and (ii) the Warrant Shares issued upon exercise of the Warrants, pursuant to the terms thereof, were validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Section 4. Form of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Certificates, together with the form of election to purchase shares of Common Stock (or Pre-Funded Warrants, in the case of the Initial Warrants) (“Notice of Exercise”) and the form of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof, shall be substantially in the forms of Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2, respectively, and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto, or to conform to usage and which do not affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Global Warrants shall be executed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer of the Company, by electronic or facsimile signature. The Global Warrants shall be countersigned by the Warrant Agent by manual, electronic or facsimile signature and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Global Warrants shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Warrant Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Global Warrant, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Warrant Agent, issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though the Person who signed such Global Warrant had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Global Warrant may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Global Warrant, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Global Warrant, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.
Upon the receipt of all relevant information from the Company or its agents, the Warrant Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at one of its offices, or at the offices of one of its agents, books for registration and transfer of the Global Warrants and Definitive Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective Holders of the Global Warrants and Definitive Certificates, the number of Warrants evidenced on the face of each such Global Warrant or Definitive Certificate, and the date of each such Global Warrant or Definitive Certificate. The Warrant Agent will create a special account for the issuance of Global Warrants.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Warrant Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Warrant Certificates. With respect to the Definitive Certificates, subject to the provisions of the Warrant Certificates, and the last sentence of this first paragraph of Section 6 and subject to applicable law, rules or regulations, restrictions on transferability that may appear on Warrant Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof or any “stop transfer” instructions the Company may give to the Warrant Agent, at any time after the closing date of the Offering, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Termination Date (as such term is defined in the Warrant Certificate), any Definitive Certificate may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Definitive Certificate, entitling the Holder to purchase a like number of shares of Common Stock as the Definitive Certificate surrendered then entitled such Holder to purchase. Any Holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Definitive Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the Warrant Agent, together with the required form of assignment and certificate duly executed and properly completed, and such Holder shall surrender the Definitive Certificate, to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Warrant Agent. Any requested transfer of Warrants, whether in book-entry form or certificate form, shall be accompanied by reasonable evidence of authority of the party making such request that may be required by the Warrant Agent, a guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” (each a “Signature Guarantee”) and such other documentation as the Warrant Agent may reasonably request. For the avoidance of doubt, in case of a Warrant in book-entry or electronic form held through the Depositary, including, without limitation, the Global Warrants, no ink-original documents nor a Signature Guarantee or any notarization shall be required to effect such transfer, split up, combination, or exchange. Thereupon the Warrant Agent shall, subject to the last sentence of this first paragraph of Section 6, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Definitive Certificate, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment from the Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Definitive Certificate. The Company shall compensate the Warrant Agent per the fee schedule mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto and provided separately on the date hereof. The Warrant Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to deliver Warrants or Warrant
4
Shares or take any action under any section of this Agreement that requires the payment of taxes and/or charges unless and until it is satisfied that all such payments have been made.
Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Warrant Certificate, which evidence shall include an affidavit of loss, or in the case of mutilated certificates, the certificate or portion thereof remaining, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity in form and amount satisfactory to the Warrant Agent (including the posting of an open penalty surety bond satisfactory to the Warrant Agent and holding it and the Company harmless), and satisfaction of any other reasonable requirements established by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York, and reimbursement to the Company and the Warrant Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Warrant Agent and cancellation of the Warrant Certificate if mutilated, absent notice to the Warrant Agent that such Warrant Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor to the Warrant Agent for delivery to the Holder in lieu of the Warrant Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Warrants; Exercise Price; Termination Date.
(a) The Initial Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants shall each be exercisable commencing on the Initial Exercise Date as set forth in the applicable Warrant Certificate. The Warrants shall cease to be exercisable and shall terminate as set forth in the applicable Warrant Certificate. Subject to the foregoing and to Section 7(b) below, the Holder of a Warrant may exercise the Warrant, in whole or in part, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2 of the applicable Warrant Certificate. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, a holder whose interest in a Global Warrant is a beneficial interest in a Global Warrant held in book-entry form through the Depositary (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) shall effect exercises by delivering to the Depositary (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for exercise, complying with the procedures to effect exercise that is required by the Depositary (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable). The Company acknowledges that the bank accounts maintained by the Warrant Agent in connection with the services provided under this Agreement will be in its name and that the benefit of funds held in those accounts from time to time. Neither the Company nor the Holders will receive interest on any deposits or Exercise Price. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required in the case of a Warrant in book-entry form held through the Depositary, including, without limitation, the Global Warrants. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to a holder whose interest in a Global Warrant is a beneficial interest in a Global Warrant held in book-entry form through the Depositary (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), upon delivery of irrevocable instructions to such holder’s Participant to exercise such warrants, that solely for purposes of Regulation SHO that such holder shall be deemed to have exercised such warrants.
(b) Upon receipt of a Notice of Exercise for a cashless exercise pursuant to the Warrants (the “Cashless Exercise”), the Company will promptly calculate and transmit to the Warrant Agent, and the Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under this Agreement to calculate, the number of Warrant Shares issuable in connection with such Cashless Exercise, and deliver a copy of the Notice of Exercise to the Warrant Agent, which shall issue such number of Warrant Shares in connection with such Cashless Exercise. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or obligation to investigate or confirm whether the Company’s determination of the number of Warrant Shares to be issued on such exercise is accurate or correct. In the event of a Cashless Exercise, the Company shall provide the cost basis for shares issued pursuant to a Cashless Exercise at the same time it transmits the number of Warrant Shares to the Warrant Agent.
(c) Upon the exercise of a Warrant Certificate, pursuant to the terms of Section 2 of such Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent shall cause: (i) in the case of an exercise Initial Warrants for Pre-Funded Warrants, the Pre-Funded Warrant Certificate to be delivered to the Holder of such Common Warrant Certificate, or applicable Global Warrant, to or upon the order of the Holder of such Common Warrant Certificate, or applicable Global Warrant, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such Holder as promptly as practicable; or (ii) in the case of an exercise Warrants for Warrant Shares, the Warrant Shares underlying such Warrant Certificate, or Global Warrant, to be delivered to or upon the order of the Holder of such Warrant Certificate, or Global Warrant, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such Holder as promptly as practicable. If the Company’s transfer agent is then a participant in the DWAC system of the Depositary and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) in the case of Public Warrants or in the event the Warrant Shares may be freely resold under Rule 144 without any volume or public information requirements or limitations, the Warrant is being exercised via Cashless Exercise, then the certificates for Warrant Shares shall be transmitted by the Warrant Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s broker with the Depositary through its DWAC system. Otherwise, the Warrant Shares shall be registered in book-entry form on the register maintained by the Company’s transfer agent. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company becomes obligated to pay any amounts to any Holders pursuant to Sections 2(d)(i) or 2(d)(iv) of the Warrant Certificate, including but not limited to any liquidated damages or any other damages associated with the Company’s failure to timely deliver Warrant Shares pursuant to the terms of the Warrants,
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such obligation and liability shall be solely that of the Company and not that of the Warrant Agent. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, except in the case of a Cashless Exercise, if any Holder fails to duly deliver payment to the Warrant Agent of an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Warrant Shares or the Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, to be purchased upon exercise of such Holder’s Warrant as set forth in Section 7(a) hereof by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Warrant Agent will not be obligated to issue nor deliver such Warrant Shares (via DWAC or otherwise) or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, until following receipt of such payment, and the applicable Warrant Share Delivery Date shall be deemed extended by one day for each day (or part thereof) until such payment is delivered to the Warrant Agent.
(d) All funds received by Computershare under this Agreement that are to be distributed or applied by Computershare in the performance of Services (the “Funds”) shall be held by Computershare as agent for the Company and deposited in one or more bank accounts to be maintained by Computershare in its name as agent for the Company. Until paid pursuant to this Agreement, Computershare may hold or invest the Funds through such accounts in: (a) funds backed by obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States of America; (b) debt or commercial paper obligations rated A-1 or P-1 or better by S&P Global Inc. (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), respectively; (c) Government and Treasury backed AAA-rated Fixed NAV money market funds that comply with Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; or (d) short term certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements, and bank accounts with commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion, or with an investment grade rating by S&P (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moody’s (Long Term Rating) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.). The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit or investment made by Computershare in accordance with this paragraph, including any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party. Computershare may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits or investments. The Warrant Agent shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to the Company, any holder or any other party.
(e) The Warrant Agent shall forward funds received for Warrant exercises in a given month by the 5th business day of the following month by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company.
(f) In the event of a cash exercise of the Warrants, the Company hereby instructs the Warrant Agent to record cost basis for newly issued Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, in a manner subsequently communicated in writing to the Warrant Agent.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Warrant Certificates. All Warrant Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Warrant Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Warrant Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Warrant Certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Warrant Agent shall so cancel and retire any other Warrant Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. At the expense of the Company, the Warrant Agent shall deliver all cancelled Warrant Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Warrant Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company, subject to any applicable law, rule or regulation requiring the Warrant Agent to retain such cancelled certificates and the Warrant Agent’s document retention policies.
Section 9. Certain Representations; Reservation and Availability of Common Stock or Cash.
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Warrant Agent, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, and the Initial Warrants have been duly authorized, executed and issued by the Company and, assuming the Initial Warrants have been countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant hereto and payment therefor by the Holders, as provided in the Registration Statement, constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits hereof; in each case except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(b) As of August 5, 2025, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of: (i) 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 53,785,369 shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding, 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants; and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which none are issued and outstanding. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there are no other
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outstanding obligations, warrants, options or other rights to subscribe for or purchase from the Company any class of securities of the Company.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, free from preemptive rights, the number of shares of Common Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants.
(d) The Warrant Agent will create a special account for the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Warrant Certificates or certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or governmental charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of Warrant Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates for shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing Warrants surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificate for shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of any Warrants and the Warrant Agent shall not be required to take any related action until any such tax or governmental charge shall have been paid (any such tax or governmental charge being payable by the Holder of such Warrant Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s and the Warrant Agent’s reasonable satisfaction that no such tax or governmental charge is due.
(f) The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants which may be issued upon the exercise of the Initial Warrants will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by the Initial Warrants and payment for such Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
Section 10. Shares of Common Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares of Common Stock is issued (or to whose broker’s account is credited shares of Common Stock through the DWAC system) upon the exercise of Warrants shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date on which submission of the Notice of Exercise was made, provided that the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant was duly surrendered (but only if required herein) and payment of the Exercise Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was received on or prior to the Warrant Share Delivery Date; provided, however, that, if the date of submission of the Notice of Exercise is a date upon which the Common Stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding day on which the Common Stock transfer books of the Company are open.
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Warrant Shares or Number of the Warrants. The Exercise Price, the number of Warrant Shares (or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable) covered by each Warrant and the number of Warrants outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 3 of the applicable Warrant Certificate. In the event that at any time, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 3 of the Warrant Certificate, the Holder of any Warrant thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of the Company other than shares of Common Stock (or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable), thereafter the number of such other or securities so receivable upon exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the shares contained in Section 3 of the applicable Warrant Certificate, and the provisions of Sections 7, 11, and 12 of this Agreement with respect to the shares of Common Stock (or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable) shall apply on like terms to any such other securities. All Warrants originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Exercise Price pursuant to the applicable Warrant Certificate shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of shares of Common Stock (or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable) purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Warrants, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. The Company hereby agrees that it will provide the Warrant Agent with reasonable notice of such adjustment event. The Company further agrees that it will provide the Warrant Agent with any new or amended exercise terms. The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under any Section of this Agreement to determine whether an adjustment event has occurred or to calculate any of the adjustments set forth herein.
Section 12. Certification of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares of Common Stock. Whenever the Exercise Price or the number of Warrant Shares (or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable) issuable upon the exercise of each Warrant is adjusted as provided in Section 11 or 13, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth the
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Exercise Price of each Warrant, as so adjusted, and any new or amended exercise terms, and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Warrant Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) instruct the Warrant Agent, at the Company’s expense, to send a brief summary of the facts accounting for such adjustment to each Holder of a Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment or statement therein contained and shall have no duty or liability with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of, any such adjustment or any such event unless and until it shall have received such certificate. The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under any Section of this Agreement to determine whether such an adjustment event has occurred or to calculate any of the adjustments set forth herein.
Section 13. Fractional Shares of Common Stock.
(a) The Company shall not issue fractions of Warrants or distribute Warrant Certificates which evidence fractional Warrants. Whenever any fractional Warrant would otherwise be required to be issued or distributed, the actual issuance or distribution shall reflect a rounding of such fraction to the nearest whole Warrant (rounded down).
(b) The Company shall not issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of Warrants or distribute stock certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. Whenever any fraction of a share of Common Stock would otherwise be required to be issued or distributed, the actual issuance or distribution in respect thereof shall be made in accordance with Section 2(d)(v) of the Warrant Certificate.
(c) The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation to make such payments unless the Company shall have first provided the necessary funds to pay in full all amounts due and payable with respect thereto.
Section 14. Conditions of the Warrant Agent’s Obligations. The Warrant Agent accepts its obligations herein set forth upon the express terms and conditions hereof, including the following to all of which the Company agrees and to all of which the rights hereunder of the Holders from time to time of the Warrant Certificates shall be subject:
(a) Compensation and Indemnification.
(i) The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent the compensation detailed in mutually agreed upon fee schedule provided separately and executed on the date hereof for all services rendered by the Warrant Agent and to reimburse the Warrant Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) 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.
(ii) The Company also agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) which may be paid, incurred or suffered by it, or which it may become subject arising from or out of, directly or indirectly, any claims or liability resulting from any action taken, suffered, or omitted by the Warrant Agent pursuant hereto without gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, ruling or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction) on the part of the Warrant Agent in connection with the execution, acceptance, administration, exercise, and performance of its duties under this Agreement, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly, or of enforcing its rights under this Agreement.
(iii) The Warrant Agent shall be under no obligation to institute or defend any action, suit, or legal proceeding in connection herewith or to take any other action likely to involve the Warrant Agent in expense, unless first indemnified to the Warrant Agent’s satisfaction.
(iv) From time to time, the Company may provide the Warrant Agent with instructions concerning the services performed by the Warrant Agent hereunder. In addition, at any time the Warrant Agent may apply to the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company for instruction, and may consult with legal counsel for the Warrant Agent or the Company with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Warrant Agent under this Agreement. The Warrant Agent and its agents and subcontractors shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Company for any action taken or omitted by the Warrant Agent in reliance upon any Company instructions or upon the advice or opinion of such counsel in the absence of bad faith (which bad faith must be determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, ruling or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction). The Warrant 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.
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(v) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Warrant Agent be liable under or in connection with this Agreement for indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to lost profits, whether or not foreseeable, even if the Warrant Agent has been advised of the possibility thereof and regardless of the form of action in which such damages are sought.
(vi) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Warrant Agent’s aggregate liability to the Company, or any of the Company’s representatives or agents, or any other person or entity during any term of this Agreement with respect to, arising from or arising in connection with this Agreement, or from all services provided or omitted to be provided under this Agreement, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, is expressly limited to, and shall not exceed in any circumstances, the amounts paid by the Company to the Warrant Agent as fees and charges under this Agreement (but not including reimbursable expenses) during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from Warrant Agent is being sought.
(vii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Warrant Agent shall not be obligated to perform any duties inconsistent with its duties under this Agreement, and the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company in the event of inconsistency between the terms of the Warrant Certificate and this Agreement that adversely affects the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent, and the Warrant Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to such actions.
(viii) This Section 14 shall survive shall survive the expiration of the Warrants and the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Warrant Agent.
(b) Agent for the Company. In acting under this Agreement and in connection with the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent is acting solely as agent of the Company and does not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the Holders of Warrant Certificates or beneficial owners of Warrants.
(c) Counsel. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory to it, which may include counsel for the Company, and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in the absence of bad faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
(d) Documents. The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon any Warrant Certificate, notice, direction, consent, certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the proper parties.
(e) Certain Transactions. The Warrant Agent, and its officers, directors and employees, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in, Warrants, with the same rights that it or they would have if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Company and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or agent for, any committee or body of Holders of Warrant Securities or other obligations of the Company as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Warrant Agent from acting as trustee under any indenture to which the Company is a party.
(f) No Liability for Interest. The Warrant Agent shall have no liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Warrant Certificates.
(g) No Liability for Invalidity. The Warrant Agent shall have no liability with respect to any invalidity of this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent’s countersignature, by either manual, electronic or facsimile signature, thereon).
(h) No Responsibility for Representations. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any of the recitals or representations herein or in the Warrant Certificate (except as to the Warrant Agent’s countersignature, by either manual, electronic or facsimile signature, thereon), all of which are made solely by the Company.
(i) No Implied Obligations. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to perform only such duties as are expressly set forth herein and in the Warrant Certificates and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates against the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action hereunder which may tend to involve it in any expense or liability, the payment of which within a reasonable time is not, in its reasonable opinion, assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or
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responsibility for the use by the Company of any of the Warrant Certificates countersigned by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the Company in the performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein or in the Warrant Certificates or in the case of the receipt of any written demand from a Holder of a Warrant Certificate with respect to such default, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law.
(j) No Notice. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any event or condition hereunder, including any event or condition that may require action by the Warrant Agent, unless the Warrant Agent shall be specifically notified in writing of such event or condition by the Company, and all notices or other instruments required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Warrant Agent must, in order to be effective, be received by the Warrant Agent as specified in Section 19 hereof, and in the absence of such notice so delivered, the Warrant Agent may conclusively assume no such event or condition exists.
(k) Company’s Failure to Timely Deliver. Provided the Warrant Agent has performed its duties as soon as commercially practicable, the Warrant Agent shall not be liable for the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Warrants, nor shall the Warrant Agent be liable for any liquidated damages or any other damages associated therewith.
(l) Signature Guarantee. The Warrant Agent may rely on and be fully authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon (a) any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing; or (b) any related law, act, regulation or any interpretation of the same.
Section 15. Merger, Consolidation or Change of Name of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent shall be party, or any entity succeeding to corporate trust or shareholder services business of the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent, shall be the successor to the Warrant 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, provided that such entity would be eligible for appointment as a successor Warrant Agent under the provisions of Section 17. The purchase of all or substantially all of the Warrant Agent’s assets employed in the performance of the transfer agent activities shall be deemed a merger or consolidation for purposes of this Section 15. In case at the time such successor Warrant Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Warrant Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Warrant Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Warrant Agent and deliver such Warrant Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Warrant Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Warrant Agent may countersign such Warrant Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Warrant Agent or in the name of the successor Warrant Agent; and in all such cases, such Warrant Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Warrant Certificates and in this Agreement.
In case at any time the name of the Warrant Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Warrant Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Warrant Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Warrant Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Warrant Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Warrant Agent may countersign such Warrant Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases, such Warrant Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Warrant Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 16. Duties of Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement and the Warrant Certificates, in each case upon the following express terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the Holders of Warrant Certificates, by their acceptance hereof, shall be bound:
(a) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company; and such certificate shall be full authentication to the Warrant Agent for any action taken, omitted to be taken, or suffered in the absence of bad faith (which bad faith must be determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, ruling or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction) by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
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(b) Subject to the limitation set forth in Section 14, the Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, ruling or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction).
(c) The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Warrant Certificates (except its countersignature, by either manual, electronic or facsimile signature, thereof) by the Company or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(d) The Warrant Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due and validly authorized execution hereof by the Warrant Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Warrant Certificate (except its due and validly authorized countersignature thereof, by either manual, electronic or facsimile signature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for the adjustment of the Exercise Price or the making of any change in the number of shares of Common Stock (or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable) required under the provisions of Section 11 or 13 or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such change or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment or change (except with respect to the exercise of Warrants evidenced by Warrant Certificates after actual notice of any adjustment of the Exercise Price); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will, when issued, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(e) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent hereto for the carrying out or performing by the Warrant Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(f) The Warrant Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Warrant Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Warrants or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Warrant Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(g) The Warrant Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Warrant Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company, to the Holders or any other Person resulting from any such act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith (each as determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, ruling or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction) in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(h) This Section 16 shall survive the expiration of the Warrants and the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Warrant Agent.
Section 17. Change of Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing sent to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock (if known to the Warrant Agent), and to the Holders of the Warrant Certificates. In the event the transfer agency relationship in effect between the Company and the Warrant Agent terminates, the Warrant Agent will be deemed to have resigned automatically and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement as of the effective date of such termination, and the Company shall be responsible for sending any required notice. The Company may remove the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing, sent to the Warrant Agent or successor Warrant Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and to the Holders of the Warrant Certificates. If the Warrant Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Warrant Agent or by the Holder of a Warrant Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit this Warrant Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the Holder of any Warrant Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Warrant Agent, provided that, for purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall be deemed to be the Warrant Agent until a new warrant agent is appointed. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be an entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of a
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state thereof, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Warrant Agent a combined capital and surplus (together with its Affiliates) of at least $50,000,000. After appointment, the successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Warrant Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Warrant Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Company or successor Warrant Agent, as the case may be, any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose at the Company’s expense and without further liability to the Warrant Agent. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, or assumption of the Warrant Agent’s role by the Company, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Warrant Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and mail a notice thereof in writing to the Holders of the Warrant Certificates. However, failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 17, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent or the appointment of the successor Warrant Agent, as the case may be.
Section 18. Issuance of New Warrant Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Warrants to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Warrant Certificates evidencing Warrants in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price per share and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the several Warrant Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and which do not affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent.
Section 19. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made (i) by the Warrant Agent or by the Holder of any Warrant Certificate to or on the Company, (ii) subject to the provisions of Section 17, by the Company or by the Holder of any Warrant Certificate to or on the Warrant Agent or (iii) by the Company or the Warrant Agent to the Holder of any Warrant Certificate, shall be deemed given (a) on the date delivered, if delivered personally, (b) when deposited with Federal Express or another recognized overnight courier, if sent by Federal Express or another recognized overnight courier, (c) when mailed with postage prepaid, if mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), and (d) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered to the Company or the Holder of any Warrant Certificate via facsimile or e-mail attachment at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business Day and (e) the next Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered to the Company or the Holder of any Warrant Certificate via facsimile or e-mail attachment on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, in each case to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) If to the Company, to:
Fossil Group, Inc.
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, TX 75080
Attention: Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel
Email: warrants@fossil.com
(b) If to the Warrant Agent, to:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
Computershare
150 Royall St., Suite 101
Canton, MA 02021
Attention: Client Services
For any notice delivered by email to be deemed given or made, such notice must be followed by notice sent by overnight courier service to be delivered on the next business day following such email, unless the recipient of such email has acknowledged via return email receipt of such email.
(c) If to the Holder of any Warrant Certificate, to the address of such Holder as shown on the registry books of the Company. Any notice required to be delivered by the Company to the Holder of any Warrant may be given by the Warrant Agent on behalf of the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, where this Agreement provides for notice of any event to a Holder of any Warrant, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the procedures of the Depositary or its designee.
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Section 20. Supplements and Amendments.
(a) The Company and the Warrant Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any Holders of Global Warrants in order to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Global Warrants, or to surrender any rights or power reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Agreement, provided that such addition, correction or surrender shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Global Warrants or Warrant Certificates in any material respect.
(b) In addition to the foregoing, with the consent of Holders of Warrants entitled, upon exercise thereof, to receive not less than a majority of the shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder, the Company and the Warrant Agent may modify this Agreement for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Warrants; provided, however, that that no modification of the terms (including but not limited to the adjustments described in Section 11) upon which the Warrants are exercisable or the rights of Holders of Warrants to receive liquidated damages or other payments in cash from the Company or reducing the percentage required for consent to modification of this Agreement may be made without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Warrant Certificate affected thereby; provided further, however, that no amendment hereunder shall affect any terms of any Warrant Certificate issued in a Warrant Exchange. As a condition precedent to the Warrant Agent’s execution of any amendment, the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent a certificate from a duly authorized officer of the Company that states that the proposed amendment complies with the terms of this Section 20. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Warrant Agent shall not be required to execute any supplement or amendment to this Agreement that it has determined would adversely affect its own rights, duties, obligations, liabilities or immunities under this Agreement. No supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless duly executed by the Warrant Agent.
Section 21. Successors. All covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and permitted assigns hereunder.
Section 22. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give any Person other than the Company, the Holders of Warrant Certificates and the Warrant Agent any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders of the Warrant Certificates.
Section 23. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event of inconsistency between any provision in this Agreement and any provision in a Warrant Certificate, as it may from time to time be amended, the Warrant Certificate shall control; provided that all rights, duties obligations, liabilities and immunities of the Warrant Agent shall be governed and controlled by this Agreement. The Company shall not amend any provisions of the Warrant Certificate without the prior written consent of the Warrant Agent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
Section 24. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. The validity, interpretation and performance of this Agreement and each Warrant Certificate and Global Warrant issued hereunder shall be governed in all respects by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any provision of law or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The parties hereto hereby agree that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and the appellate courts thereof, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The parties hereto hereby waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Section 25. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Electronic signatures complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§301-309), as amended from time to time, the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, or other applicable law will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Agreement and shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability
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as an original signature. Transmission by telecopy, electronic mail or other transmission method of an executed counterpart of this Agreement will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterparty.
Section 26. Captions. The captions of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
Section 27. Information. The Company agrees to promptly provide to the Holders of the Warrants any information it provides to the holders of shares of Common Stock, except to the extent any such information is publicly available on the EDGAR system (or any successor thereof) of the Commission.
Section 28. Confidentiality. The Warrant Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public Warrant Holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement including the fees for services set forth in the attached schedule shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law, including, without limitation, pursuant to subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (e.g., in divorce and criminal actions).
Section 29. Force Majeure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Warrant Agent will not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, epidemic, pandemic, 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, labor difficulties, war, or civil unrest.
Section 30. Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid, legal and enforceable. If an invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision shall materially and adversely affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent, the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company.
[Remainder of page left intentionally blank; signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Randy Hyne |
| Name: Randy Hyne | |
| Title: Secretary | |
| COMPUTERSHARE INC. | |
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. | |
| By: | /s/ Collin Ekeogu |
| Name: Collin Ekeogu | |
| Title: Senior Manager, Corporate Actions |
[Signature Page toWarrant Agency Agreement]
Exhibit 1: Form of Warrant Certificate
[NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.]^1^
FORM OF
WARRANT TOPURCHASE COMMON STOCK OR PRE-FUNDED WARRANTS
FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
| Warrant Shares: [ ] | Issue Date: [ ], 202[ ] |
|---|---|
| Initial Exercise Date: [ ], 202[ ] |
THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, [ ] or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date set forth above (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on [ ], 202[ ]^2^ (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to [ ] shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 (the “Common Stock”) or Pre-Funded Warrants (as defined below) to purchase the same number of Warrant Shares (as subject to adjustment as provided herein). The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in 0 and the purchase price of one Pre-Funded Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price minus the Pre-Funded Warrant Exercise Price (as defined below). This Warrant shall initially be issued and maintained in the form of a security held in book-entry form and The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee shall initially be the sole registered holder of this Warrant, subject to a Holder’s right to elect to receive a Warrant in certificated form pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement (as defined below), in which case this sentence shall not apply.
Certain Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1:
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or its subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
^1^To be included for private warrants only.
^2^Date to be 30 days following the Issue Date.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or governmental agency or other entity.
“Pre-Funded Warrant” means a pre-funded warrant to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised in the form of a Pre-Funded Warrant attached as Exhibit A hereto.
“Pre-Funded Warrant Exercise Price” means $0.01 per share of Common Stock.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Shareholder Approval” means the approvals by the holders of Common Stock that are required under the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market (and any successor thereto and any other trading market on which the Common Stock is listed), including Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(b) and Rule 5635(d), to permit the issuance of shares of Common Stock above relevant thresholds included in such rules, upon exercise of this Warrant and the other warrants issued pursuant to the Securities Exchange Agreement that would result in the holders hereof and thereof (together with their respective affiliates) beneficially owning in excess of 19.99% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise(s).
“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges: the NYSE MKT LLC, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transfer Agent” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Company’s transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock, and any successor appointed in such capacity.
“Warrant Agency Agreement” means that certain warrant agency agreement, dated on or about the Initial Exercise Date, between the Company and the Warrant Agent.
“Warrant Agent” means Computershare Inc. and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., jointly as warrant agent and any successor warrant agent of the Company.
Exercise.
Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company (with a copy to the Warrant Agent) of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Any Notice of Exercise provided on a day that is not a Trading Day or that is provided after 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) shall be treated as having been given on the next succeeding Trading Day. Within two (2) Trading Days following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the Warrant Shares (or, in the event that this Warrant is exercised for Pre-Funded Warrants, the Exercise Price minus the Pre-Funded Warrant Exercise Price) specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in 0 below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and to the extent a physical copy is issued to the Holder, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation as soon as reasonably practicable following the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants purchasable
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hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Trading Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount statedon the face hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 2(a), a holder whose interest in this Warrant is a beneficial interest in certificate(s) representing this Warrant held in book-entry form through DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), shall effect exercises made pursuant to this Section 2(a) by delivering to DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for exercise, complying with the procedures to effect exercise that are required by DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable), subject to a Holder’s right to elect to receive a Warrant in certificated form pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement, in which case this sentence shall not apply.
Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $0.50, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”). In the event this Warrant is exercised for Pre-Funded Warrants, the exercise price per Pre-Funded Warrant under this Warrant shall be $0.49, which represents the Exercise Price minus the Pre-Funded Warrant Exercise Price, subject to adjustment hereunder.
Cashless Exercise. This Warrant may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares (but not Pre-Funded Warrants) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
| (A) = | as applicable: (i) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of<br>Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to 0 hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to 0 hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular<br>trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date<br>of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of<br>Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day)<br>pursuant to 0 hereof or (iii) the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to 0 hereof after the close of<br>“regular trading hours” on such Trading Day; |
|---|---|
| (B) = | the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and |
| --- | --- |
| (X) = | the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms<br>of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise. |
| --- | --- |
“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the principal Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not listed or quoted on a Trading Market and is listed or quoted on the OTCQB Venture Market (“OTCQB”) or the OTCQX Best Market (“OTCQX”), the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common
3
Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the principal Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not listed or quoted on a Trading Market and is listed or quoted on the OTCQB or the OTCQX, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on the Pink Open Market operated by the OTC Markets, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the holding period of the Warrant Shares being issued may be tacked on to the holding period of this Warrant. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this 0.
Mechanics of Exercise.
Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account (1) with DTC through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, (B) this Warrant was registered in an effective registration statement and is being exercised via cashless exercise, or (C) the Warrant Shares are eligible for resale by the Holder without volume or manner-of-sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants), or (2) otherwise via electronic book entry by the Transfer Agent, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, or by physical delivery of a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, in each case for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is two (2) Trading Days after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, provided the Holder has delivered the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise), the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received by the Warrant Share Delivery Date. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, other than a failure caused by the Holder or its broker, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the shares of Common Stock on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the third (3^rd^) Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable.
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Delivery of Pre-Funded Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant is being exercised for Pre-Funded Warrants, the Company shall cause the Warrant Agent to issue by electronic book entry, registered in the Warrant Agent’s register in the name of the Holder or its designee, Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which this Warrant is being exercised by the date that is the latest of (i) two (2) Business Days after delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise, and (ii) two (2) Business Days after delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price minus the Pre-Funded Warrant Exercise Price to the Company (such date, the “Pre-Funded Warrant Delivery Date”).
Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Warrant Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares or the Company fails to transmit to the Holder the Pre-Funded Warrants pursuant to 0 or Section 2(d)(ii), as applicable by the Warrant Share Delivery Date or the Pre-Funded Warrant Delivery Date, as applicable, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise and the Company shall return all consideration paid by the Holder for such Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants, as applicable, upon such rescission. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to make any cash payments to the Holder in lieu of issuance of the Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants.
Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Warrant Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of 0 above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of Warrants for shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. The Holder shall not exercise any right under this 0 against the Company, unless in connection with providing the relevant Notice of Exercise, the Holder has confirmed with the Company receipt of the Notice of Exercise and informed the Company that it has entered into or prior to the Warrant Share Deliver Date may enter into sales of Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipates receiving upon such exercise. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
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No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price, or Exercise Price minus the Pre-Funded Warrant Exercise Price, as applicable, or round up to the next whole share or Pre-Funded Warrants.
Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event that Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.
Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.
Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to 0 or otherwise (except in the case of an exercise for Pre-Funded Warrants), to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this 0, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this 0 applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this 0, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial
6
Ownership Limitation” shall be 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this 0, provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 19.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this 0 shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61^st^ day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this 0 to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Warrant shall not be exercisable for shares of Common Stock above the Maximum Percentage without obtaining Shareholder Approval and the exercise otherwise satisfies the requirements of Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635 with respect to issuances of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant.
Certain Adjustments.
Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this 0 shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or reclassification.
Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to 0 above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms (including any limitations) applicable to such Purchase Rights as if they were holders of Common Stock, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent, if practicable, shall instead be paid by the Company through the Company’s issuance to the Holder of Pre-Funded Warrants, and otherwise shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including
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without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall, if practicable, instead be paid by the Company through the Company’s issuance to the Holder of Pre-Funded Warrants, and otherwise shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in 0 on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in 0 on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. ^3^The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this 0 pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall be added to the term “Company” under this Warrant (so that from and after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead
^3^ This warrant will be in existence for 30 days.
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to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally with the Company, may exercise every right and power of the Company prior thereto and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall assume all of the obligations of the Company prior thereto under this Warrant with the same effect as if the Company and such Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, had been named as the Company herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the Holder shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of this 0 regardless of (i) whether the Company has sufficient authorized shares of Common Stock for the issuance of Warrant Shares and/or (ii) whether a Fundamental Transaction occurs prior to the Initial Exercise Date.
Calculations. All calculations under this 0 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this 0, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.
Notice to Holder.
Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this 0, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company or (F) in connection with any Fundamental Transaction, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by email to the Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.
Transfer of Warrant.
Transferability. Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney (along with a medallion signature guarantee in the case of Warrants that are not held in global form
9
through DTC or any successor depositary, if requested by the Company or the Warrant Agent) and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants without having a new Warrant issued.
New Warrants. If this Warrant is not held in global form through DTC (or any successor depository), this Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with 0, as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the Issue Date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants issuable pursuant thereto.
Warrant Register. The Company shall (or shall cause the Warrant Agent to) register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by or on behalf of the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.
Transfer Restrictions. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be either (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, provide such certifications or opinions as the Company shall reasonably request to ensure compliance with applicable law.
Representation by the Holder. The Holder, by the acceptance hereof, represents and warrants that it is acquiring this Warrant and, upon any exercise hereof, will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Warrant Shares or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act.]^4^
Miscellaneous.
No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in 0, except as expressly set forth in 0. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to 0 or to receive cash payments pursuant to 0 and Error! Reference source not found. herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.
Withholding and Reporting Requirements.
The Company (or its agent) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold any amounts that it determines in its reasonable discretion are required to be deducted and withheld under applicable law in connection with this Warrant. Any amounts so deducted or withheld shall be treated for purposes of this Warrant as though they were paid or delivered to the holder in respect of whom such withholding was made, and the Company shall timely remit any amounts so deducted or withheld to the applicable taxing authority. Without limiting the foregoing, in the
^4^ To be included for private warrants only.
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event that any such withholding or deduction is required in connection with an adjustment under Section 3 or a non-cash distribution, the Company shall be authorized to take such actions so that (i) the holder economically bears such withholding taxes, and (ii) the Company is able to comply with its withholding obligations. ****
The Company and each holder shall treat the Warrants as stock of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the “Intended Tax Treatment”); provided that if the Company tentatively determines following the Issue Date that such treatment might not be appropriate in light of the circumstances at the time, the Company and Consenting Holders shall cooperate in good faith to determine whether an alternative tax treatment is appropriate (an “Alternative Tax Treatment”). Without limiting the foregoing, the Company and each holder shall prepare all tax returns in a manner consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment or Alternative Tax Treatment, as applicable, except if otherwise required by a final “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.
Each Holder shall submit to the Company on or prior to the date that it becomes a Holder a properly executed IRS Form W-9 or appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable and any other tax form or certification reasonably requested by the Company and, in each case, shall update such form or certification if it expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect.
Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company or the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares or any Pre-Funded Warrants, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it, and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, or Pre-Funded Warrant, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate or Pre-Funded Warrant of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate or Pre-Funded Warrant.
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.
Authorized Shares.
The Company covenants that, at all times during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or
11
appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any provision of law or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement hereof), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any action, suit or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it hereunder or as maintained in the books and records of the Company and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, then, in addition to the obligations of the Company under any other section hereunder, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTYAGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES FOREVER TRIAL BY JURY.
Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies, notwithstanding the fact that the right to exercise this Warrant terminates on the Termination Date. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.
Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) personally served, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, or email or facsimile transmission, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed
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effective (I) upon hand delivery or delivery by email, at the address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received) or (II) on the second business day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur.
To the Company:
Fossil Group, Inc.
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, TX 75080
Attention: Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel
Email: legal@fossil.com
Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the respective successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrants.
Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holder of this Warrant.
Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
Warrant Agency Agreement. The terms of this Warrant are to be read in conjunction with the applicable terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement. To the extent any provision of this Warrant conflicts with the express provisions of the Warrant Agency Agreement, the provisions of this Warrant shall govern and be controlling; provided, however, that the express terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement shall control and supersede any provision in this Warrant concerning the rights, duties, obligations, protections, immunities and liabilities of the Warrant Agent.
********************
(Signature Page Follows)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| Warrant Agent’s Countersignature: | |
| COMPUTERSHARE INC. and | |
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., | |
| on behalf of both entities | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
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NOTICE OF EXERCISE
| TO: | FOSSIL GROUP, INC. |
|---|
This notice should be emailed to each addressee below (and telephonic confirmation of receipt can be received) as follows (or such other contact details as provided in writing to the Holder):
[This will become public] [Create listserve email and general tel no.]
The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ [Warrant Shares]//[Pre-Funded Warrants] of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
☐ in lawful money of the United States; or
☐ if permitted the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 0, to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 0.
Please issue said [Warrant Shares]//[Pre-Funded Warrants] in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:
[Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.]^5^
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
| Name of Investing Entity: |
|---|
| Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: |
| Name of Authorized Signatory: |
| Title of Authorized Signatory: |
| Date: |
^5^ To be included for private warrants only.
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to exercise theWarrant to purchase shares.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to
| Name: | |
|---|---|
| (Please Print) | |
| Address: | |
| (Please Print) | |
| Phone Number: | |
| Email Address: | |
| Dated: _______________ __, ______ | |
| Holder’s Signature: | |
| Holder’s Address: |
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF PRE-FUNDED WARRANT
[See attached]
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Exhibit 2: Pre-Funded Warrant Certificate
[NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.]^6^
FORM OF
PRE-FUNDED COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
FOSSIL GROUP, INC.
| Warrant Shares: [ ] | Issue Date: [ ], 202[ ] |
|---|---|
| Initial Exercise Date: [ ], 202[ ] |
THIS PRE-FUNDED COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, [ ] or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date set forth above (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and until this Warrant is exercised in full (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to [ ] shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 (the “Common Stock”). The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in 0. This Warrant shall initially be issued and maintained in the form of a security held in book-entry form and The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee shall initially be the sole registered holder of this Warrant, subject to a Holder’s right to elect to receive a Warrant in certificated form pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement (as defined below), in which case this sentence shall not apply.
Certain Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1:
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
“Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or its subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
^6^ To be included in private warrants only.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or governmental agency or other entity.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Shareholder Approval” means the approvals by the holders of Common Stock that are required under the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market (and any successor thereto and any other trading market on which the Common Stock is listed), including Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(b) and Rule 5635(d), to permit the issuance of shares of Common Stock above relevant thresholds included in such rules, upon exercise of this Warrant and the other warrants issued pursuant to the Securities Exchange Agreement that would result in the holders hereof and thereof (together with their respective affiliates) beneficially owning in excess of 19.99% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise(s).
“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges: the NYSE MKT LLC, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transfer Agent” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Company’s transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock, and any successor appointed in such capacity.
“Warrant Agency Agreement” means that certain warrant agency agreement, dated on or about the Initial Exercise Date, between the Company and the Warrant Agent.
“Warrant Agent” means Computershare Inc. and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., jointly as warrant agent and any successor warrant agent of the Company.
Exercise.
Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company (with a copy to the Warrant Agent) of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Any Notice of Exercise provided on a day that is not a Trading Day or that is provided after 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) shall be treated as having been given on the next succeeding Trading Day. Within two (2) Trading Days following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the Warrant Shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in 0 below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, and to the extent a physical copy is issued to the Holder, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation as soon as reasonably practicable following the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Trading Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, followingthe purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 2(a), a holder whose interest in this Warrant is a beneficial interest in certificate(s) representing this Warrant held in book-entry form through DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), shall effect exercises made pursuant to this Section 2(a) by delivering to DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for exercise, complying with the procedures to effect exercise that are required by DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable), subject to a Holder’s right to elect to receive a Warrant in certificated form pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement, in which case this sentence shall not apply.
Exercise Price. The aggregate exercise price of this Warrant, except for a nominal exercise price of $0.01 per Warrant Share, was pre-funded to the Company on or prior to the Initial Exercise Date and, consequently, no additional consideration (other than the nominal exercise price of $0.01 per Warrant Share) shall be required to be paid by the Holder to any Person to effect any exercise of this Warrant. The Holder shall not be entitled to the return or refund of all, or any portion, of such pre-paid aggregate exercise price under any circumstance or for any reason whatsoever, including in the event this Warrant shall not have been exercised prior to the Termination Date. The remaining unpaid exercise price per share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $0.01, subject to adjustment hereunder (such remaining unpaid exercise price, the “Exercise Price”).
Cashless Exercise. This Warrant may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:
| (A) = | as applicable: (i) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of<br>Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to 0 hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to 0 hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular<br>trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date<br>of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of<br>Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day)<br>pursuant to 0 hereof or (iii) the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to 0 hereof after the close of<br>“regular trading hours” on such Trading Day; |
|---|---|
| (B) = | the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and |
| --- | --- |
| (X) = | the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms<br>of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise. |
| --- | --- |
“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the principal Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not listed or quoted on a Trading Market and is listed or quoted on the OTCQB Venture Market (“OTCQB”) or the OTCQX Best Market (“OTCQX”), the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of
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the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the principal Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not listed or quoted on a Trading Market and is listed or quoted on the OTCQB or the OTCQX, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on the Pink Open Market operated by the OTC Markets, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the holding period of the Warrant Shares being issued may be tacked on to the holding period of this Warrant. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this 0.
Mechanics of Exercise.
Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Warrant Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, (B) this Warrant is being exercised via cashless exercise, and otherwise electronic book entry by the Transfer Agent, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee or (C) the Warrant Shares are eligible for resale by the Holder without volume or manner-of-sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming cashless exercise of the Warrants), for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is two (2) Trading Days after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, provided the Holder has delivered the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise), the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received by the Warrant Share Delivery Date. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, other than a failure caused by the Holder or its broker, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the shares of Common Stock on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the third (3^rd^) Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable.
Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.
Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Warrant Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to 0 by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.
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Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Warrant Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of 0 above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of Warrants for shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. The Holder shall not exercise any right under this 0 against the Company, unless in connection with providing the relevant Notice of Exercise, the Holder has confirmed with the Company receipt of the Notice of Exercise and informed the Company that it has entered into or prior to the Warrant Share Deliver Date may enter into sales of Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipates receiving upon such exercise. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.
Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event that Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.
Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.
Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to 0 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial
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Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this 0, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this 0 applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this 0, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this 0, provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 19.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this 0 shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61^st^ day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this 0 to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Warrant shall not be exercisable for shares of Common Stock above the Maximum Percentage without obtaining Shareholder Approval and the exercise otherwise satisfies the requirements of Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635 with respect to issuances of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant.
Certain Adjustments.
Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of
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this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this 0 shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or reclassification.
Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to 0 above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms (including any limitations) applicable to such Purchase Rights as if they were holders of Common Stock, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in 0 on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is
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exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in 0 on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this 0 pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall be added to the term “Company” under this Warrant (so that from and after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally with the Company, may exercise every right and power of the Company prior thereto and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall assume all of the obligations of the Company prior thereto under this Warrant with the same effect as if the Company and such Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, had been named as the Company herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the Holder shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of this 0 regardless of (i) whether the Company has sufficient authorized shares of Common Stock for the issuance of Warrant Shares and/or (ii) whether a Fundamental Transaction occurs prior to the Initial Exercise Date.
Calculations. All calculations under this 0 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this 0, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.
Notice to Holder.
Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this 0, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company or (F) in connection with any Fundamental Transaction, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by email to the Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date
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hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.
Transfer of Warrant.
Transferability. Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney (along with a medallion signature guarantee in the case of Warrants that are not held in global form through DTC or any successor depositary, if requested by the Company or the Warrant Agent) and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.
New Warrants. If this Warrant is not held in global form through DTC (or any successor depository), this Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with 0, as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the Issue Date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.
Warrant Register. The Company shall (or shall cause the Warrant Agent to) register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by or on behalf of the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.
[Transfer Restrictions. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be either (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, provide such certifications or opinions as the Company shall reasonably request to ensure compliance with applicable law.
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Representation by the Holder. The Holder, by the acceptance hereof, represents and warrants that it is acquiring this Warrant and, upon any exercise hereof, will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Warrant Shares or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act.]^7^
Miscellaneous.
No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in 0, except as expressly set forth in 0. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to 0 or to receive cash payments pursuant to 0 and Error! Reference source not found. herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.
Withholding and Reporting Requirements.
The Company (or its agent) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold any amounts that it determines in its reasonable discretion are required to be deducted and withheld under applicable law in connection with this Warrant. Any amounts so deducted or withheld shall be treated for purposes of this Warrant as though they were paid or delivered to the holder in respect of whom such withholding was made, and the Company shall timely remit any amounts so deducted or withheld to the applicable taxing authority. Without limiting the foregoing, in the event that any such withholding or deduction is required in connection with an adjustment under Section 3 or a non-cash distribution, the Company shall be authorized to take such actions so that (i) the holder economically bears such withholding taxes, and (ii) the Company is able to comply with its withholding obligations.
The Company and each holder shall treat the Warrants as stock of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the “Intended Tax Treatment”). Without limiting the foregoing, the Company and each holder shall prepare all tax returns in a manner consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment, except if otherwise required by a final “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code or a change in applicable law.
Each Holder shall submit to the Company on or prior to the date that it becomes a Holder a properly executed IRS Form W-9 or appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable and any other tax form or certification reasonably requested by the Company and, in each case, shall update such form or certification if it expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect.
Following the reasonable request of a Holder, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide, if it is legally able to do so, a certificate to such Holder conforming to the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2) stating that the Company is not, and has not been during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c) of the Code, a United States real property holding corporation (within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code).
Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company or the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, which evidence should include an affidavit of the loss or the certificate or portion thereof remaining, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it, and satisfaction of any other reasonable requirements established by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York, and reimbursement to the Company and the Warrant Agent of all reasonable expenses thereto, and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, absent notice to the Warrant Agent that such Warrant or stock certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like
^7^ To be included in private warrants only.
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tenor and dated as of such cancellation to the Warrant Agent for delivery to the Holder, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.
Authorized Shares.
The Company covenants that, at all times during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).
Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.
Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.
Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any provision of law or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement hereof), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any action, suit or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it hereunder or as maintained in the books and
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records of the Company and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, then, in addition to the obligations of the Company under any other section hereunder, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTIONBROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES FOREVER TRIAL BY JURY.
Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.
Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies, notwithstanding the fact that the right to exercise this Warrant terminates on the Termination Date. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.
(a) Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) personally served, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, or email or facsimile transmission, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (I) upon hand delivery or delivery by email, at the address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received) or (II) on the second business day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur.
To the Company:
Fossil Group, Inc.
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, TX 75080
Attention: Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel
Email: legal@fossil.com
Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.
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Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the respective successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.
Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the Holder of this Warrant.
Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.
Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.
Warrant Agency Agreement. The terms of this Warrant are to be read in conjunction with the applicable terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement. To the extent any provision of this Warrant conflicts with the express provisions of the Warrant Agency Agreement, the provisions of this Warrant shall govern and be controlling; provided, however, that the express terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement shall control and supersede any provision in this Warrant concerning the rights, duties, obligations, protections, immunities and liabilities of the Warrant Agent.
********************
(Signature Page Follows)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Name: Randy Hyne | |
| Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary<br><br><br><br> <br>Warrant Agent’s Countersignature:<br><br><br>COMPUTERSHARE INC. and<br> <br>COMPUTERSHARE TRUSTCOMPANY, N.A.,<br> <br>on behalf of both entities<br> <br><br><br><br>By: _____________________________<br><br><br>Name:<br> <br>Title: |
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NOTICE OF EXERCISE
| TO: | FOSSIL GROUP, INC. |
|---|
This notice should be emailed to each addressee below (and telephonic confirmation of receipt can be received) as follows (or such other contact details as provided in writing to the Holder):
Randy Hyne Email: randyh@fossil.com Tel: (972) 234-2525
Randy Greben Email: rgreben@fossil.com Tel: (858) 344-8543
Sharon Dean Email: sharond@fosssil.com Tel: (214) 207-1670
Javis De Meulenaere Email: jdemeulenaer@fossil.com Tel: (214) 244-3762
The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
☐ in lawful money of the United States; or
☐ if permitted the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 0, to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 0.
Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:
[(4) Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.]^8^
^8^ To be included in private warrants only.
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[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
| Name of Investing Entity: |
|---|
| Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: |
| Name of Authorized Signatory: |
| Title of Authorized Signatory: |
| Date: |
16
ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to exercise theWarrant to purchase shares.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to
| Name: | |
|---|---|
| (Please Print) | |
| Address: | |
| (Please Print) | |
| Phone Number: | |
| Email Address: | |
| Dated: _______________ __, ______ | |
| Holder’s Signature: | |
| Holder’s Address: |
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Exhibit 3: Form of Warrant Certificate Request Notice
WARRANT CERTIFICATE REQUEST NOTICE
To: Computershare Inc., and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., collectively as Warrant Agent for Fossil Group, Inc. (the “Company”)
The undersigned Holder of [Pre-Funded] Warrants (“Warrants”) in the form of Global Warrants issued by the Company hereby elects to receive a Definitive Certificate evidencing the Warrants held by the Holder as specified below:
| 1. | Name of Holder of Warrants in form of Global Warrants: ___________________________ |
|---|---|
| 2. | Name of Holder of Warrants in form of Definitive Certificate (if different from name of Holder of Warrants<br>in form of Global Warrants): ________________________________ |
| --- | --- |
| 3. | Number of Warrants in name of Holder in form of Global Warrants: ___________________ |
| --- | --- |
| 4. | Number of Warrants for which Definitive Certificate shall be issued: __________________<br> |
| --- | --- |
| 5. | Number of Warrants in name of Holder in form of Global Warrants after issuance of Definitive Certificate, if<br>any: ___________ |
| --- | --- |
| 6. | Definitive Certificate shall be delivered to the following address: |
| --- | --- |
The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that, in connection with this Warrant Exchange and the issuance of the Definitive Certificate, the Holder is deemed to have surrendered the number of Warrants in form of Global Warrants in the name of the Holder equal to the number of Warrants evidenced by the Definitive Certificate.
| [SIGNATURE OF HOLDER] |
|---|
| Name of Investing Entity: |
| Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: |
| Name of Authorized Signatory: |
| Title of Authorized Signatory: |
| Date: |
Exhibit 4: Form of Global Warrant Request Notice
GLOBAL WARRANT REQUEST NOTICE
To: Computershare Inc., and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., collectively as Warrant Agent for Fossil Group, Inc. (the “Company”)
The undersigned Holder of [Pre-Funded] Warrants (“Warrants”) in the form of Definitive Certificates issued by the Company hereby elects to receive a Global Warrant evidencing the Warrants held by the Holder as specified below:
| 1. | Name of Holder of Warrants in form of Definitive Certificates: _____________________________<br> |
|---|---|
| 2. | Name of Holder of Warrants in form of Global Warrant (if different from name of Holder of Warrants in form<br>of Definitive Certificates): ________________________________ |
| --- | --- |
| 3. | Number of Warrants in name of Holder in form of Definitive Certificates: ___________________<br> |
| --- | --- |
| 4. | Number of Warrants for which Global Warrant shall be issued: __________________ |
| --- | --- |
| 5. | Number of Warrants in name of Holder in form of Definitive Certificates after issuance of Global Warrant, if<br>any: ___________ |
| --- | --- |
The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that, in connection with this Global Warrant Exchange and the issuance of the Global Warrant, the Holder is deemed to have surrendered the number of Warrants in form of Definitive Certificates in the name of the Holder equal to the number of Warrants evidenced by the Global Warrant.
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
Name of Investing Entity:
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:
Name of Authorized Signatory:
Title of Authorized Signatory:
Date:
EX-10.1
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
dated as of November 13, 2025
by and between
ACF FINCO ILP,
as ABL Agent,
Wilmington Trust, National Association,
as First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, and
Wilmington Trust, National Association,
as Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS | 2 | ||
| Section 1.1 | UCC Definitions | 2 | |
| Section 1.2 | Other Definitions | 2 | |
| Section 1.3 | Rules of Construction | 18 | |
| ARTICLE 2 LIEN PRIORITY | 19 | ||
| Section 2.1 | Priority of Liens | 19 | |
| Section 2.2 | Waiver of Right to Contest Liens | 20 | |
| Section 2.3 | Remedies Standstill | 21 | |
| Section 2.4 | Exercise of Rights | 22 | |
| Section 2.5 | No New Liens; Similar Agreements | 26 | |
| Section 2.6 | Waiver of Marshalling | 26 | |
| ARTICLE 3 ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES | 27 | ||
| Section 3.1 | Certain Actions Permitted | 27 | |
| Section 3.2 | Agent for Perfection | 28 | |
| Section 3.3 | Sharing of Information and Access | 28 | |
| Section 3.4 | Insurance | 28 | |
| Section 3.5 | No Additional Rights For the Credit Parties Hereunder | 28 | |
| Section 3.6 | Inspection and Access Rights | 28 | |
| Section 3.7 | Tracing of and Priorities in Proceeds | 30 | |
| Section 3.8 | Purchase Option; Collateral Designation Option. | 31 | |
| Section 3.9 | Payments Over | 33 | |
| Section 3.10 | UK Third Party Notices | 34 | |
| ARTICLE 4 APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS | 42 | ||
| Section 4.1 | Application of Proceeds | 42 | |
| Section 4.2 | Specific Performance | 45 | |
| ARTICLE 5 INTERCREDITOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND WAIVERS | 45 | ||
| Section 5.1 | Notice of Acceptance and Other Waivers | 45 | |
| Section 5.2 | Modifications to ABL Documents and Notes Documents | 46 | |
| Section 5.3 | Reinstatement and Continuation of Agreement | 48 | |
| ARTICLE 6 INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS | 49 | ||
| Section 6.1 | DIP Financing | 49 | |
| Section 6.2 | Relief From Stay | 51 | |
| Section 6.3 | No Contest; Adequate Protection | 51 | |
| Section 6.4 | Asset Sales | 52 | |
| Section 6.5 | Separate Grants of Security and Separate Classification | 53 | |
| Section 6.6 | Enforceability | 53 | |
| Section 6.7 | ABL Obligations Unconditional | 53 | |
| Section 6.8 | Notes Obligations Unconditional | 54 | |
| Section 6.9 | Waivers – Bankruptcy Code Sections 506(c) and 1111(b)(2) | 54 | |
| Section 6.10 | Post-Petition Interest | 54 | |
| Section 6.11 | Reorganization Securities | 55 | |
| ARTICLE 7 MISCELLANEOUS | 55 | ||
| Section 7.1 | Rights of Subrogation | 55 | |
| Section 7.2 | Further Assurances | 55 | |
| Section 7.3 | Representations | 55 | |
| Section 7.4 | Amendments | 56 | |
| Section 7.5 | Addresses for Notices | 56 | |
| --- | --- | --- | |
| Section 7.6 | No Waiver; Remedies | 56 | |
| Section 7.7 | Continuing Agreement, Transfer of Secured Obligations | 56 | |
| Section 7.8 | GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT | 57 | |
| Section 7.9 | Counterparts | 57 | |
| Section 7.10 | No Third Party Beneficiaries | 57 | |
| Section 7.11 | Headings | 57 | |
| Section 7.12 | Severability | 57 | |
| Section 7.13 | Attorneys’ Fees | 57 | |
| Section 7.14 | VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER | 57 | |
| Section 7.15 | Intercreditor Agreement | 58 | |
| Section 7.16 | No Warranties or Liability | 58 | |
| Section 7.17 | Conflicts | 59 | |
| Section 7.18 | Costs and Expenses | 59 | |
| Section 7.19 | Information Concerning Financial Condition of the Credit Parties | 59 |
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INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
This INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of November 13, 2025 between (a)ACF FINCO I LP, in its capacities as administrative agent and collateral agent (together with its successors or co-agents in substantially the same capacity as may from time to time be appointed, the “ABL Agent”) for (i) the financial institutions, lenders and investors party from time to time to the ABL Credit Agreement referred to below (such financial institutions, lenders and investors together with their respective successors, assigns and transferees, including any letter of credit issuers under the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ABL Lenders” and, together with the ABL Agent and any other secured parties under any ABL Document (as defined below), the “ABL Secured Parties”), (b)Wilmington Trust,National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent for the First-Out Notes Claimholders referred to below (together with its successors or co-agents in substantially the same capacity as may from time to time be appointed, the “First-Out Notes Collateral Agent”), (c)Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent for the Second-Out Notes Claimholders referred to below (together with its successors or co-agents in substantially the same capacity as may from time to time be appointed, the “Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent”, and together with the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, the “Initial Notes Collateral Agents” and each an “Initial Notes Collateral Agent”), and (d) acknowledged and agreed to by the Credit Parties (as defined below).
RECITALS
A. Pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of August 12, 2025, among FOSSIL GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), FOSSIL PARTNERS, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“Fossil Partners”), each of the other U.S. Subsidiary Borrowers (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) from time to time party thereto, and FOSSIL CANADA INC., a corporation organized under the laws of New Brunswick (“Fossil Canada”), the Guarantors (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) from time to time party thereto, the ABL Lenders, and the ABL Agent (as such agreement may be amended, supplemented, restated, amended and restated, extended, renewed, replaced, refinanced and/or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ABL CreditAgreement”), the ABL Lenders have agreed to make certain loans and other financial accommodations to or for the benefit of the ABL Borrowers.
B. Pursuant to certain guaranties (as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement or pursuant to any other ABL Document (as hereinafter defined)) (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, restated and/or otherwise modified, collectively, the “ABL Guarantee”) by each of the ABL Guarantors (as hereinafter defined) in favor of the ABL Agent on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties, ABL Guarantors have agreed to guarantee, inter alia, the payment and performance of the ABL Borrowers’ obligations under the ABL Documents (as hereinafter defined).
C. As a condition to the effectiveness of the ABL Credit Agreement and to secure the obligations of the ABL Borrowers and the ABL Guarantors (collectively, the “ABL Credit Parties”) under and in connection with the ABL Documents, the ABL Credit Parties have granted to the ABL Agent (for the benefit of the ABL Secured Parties) Liens (as hereinafter defined) on the ABL Collateral (as hereinafter defined).
D. Company (in such capacity, the “First-Out Notes Issuer”), the First-Out Notes Guarantors (as hereinafter defined), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (in its capacity, and its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “First-Out Notes Trustee”) and the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, are party to that certain Indenture, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “First-Out Notes Indenture”), pursuant to which 9.500% Senior Secured Notes of the First-Out Notes Issuer due 2029 (the “First-Out Notes”) were issued.
E. Pursuant to certain guaranties (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, restated and/or otherwise modified, collectively, the “First-Out Notes Guarantee”) by each of the First-Out Notes Guarantors in favor of the First-Out Notes Claimholders (as hereinafter defined), the First-Out Notes Guarantors have agreed to guarantee, inter alia, the payment and performance of the First-Out Notes Issuer’s obligations under the First-Out Notes Indenture and the First-Out Notes.
F. Company (in such capacity, the “Second-Out Notes Issuer” and, together with the First-Out Notes Issuer, collectively, the “Issuer”), the Second-Out Notes Guarantors (as hereinafter defined), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (in its capacity, and its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Second-Out Notes Trustee” and, together with the First-Out Notes Trustee, collectively, the “Initial Notes Trustees” and each, an “Initial Notes Trustee”) and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent, are party to that certain Indenture, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Second-Out Notes Indenture” and, together with the First-Out Notes Indenture, collectively, the “Initial Notes Indentures”), pursuant to which 7.500% Senior Secured Notes of the Second-Out Notes Issuer due 2029 (the “Second-Out Notes” and, together with the First-Out Notes, collectively, the “Initial Notes”) were issued.
G. Pursuant to certain guaranties (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, restated and/or otherwise modified, collectively, the “Second-Out Notes Guarantee” and, together with the First-Out Notes Guarantee, collectively, the “Initial Notes Guarantee”) by each of the Second-Out Notes Guarantors in favor of the Second-Out Notes Claimholders (as hereinafter defined), the Second-Out Notes Guarantors have agreed to guarantee, inter alia, the payment and performance of the Second-Out Notes Issuer’s obligations under the Second-Out Notes Indenture and the Second-Out Notes.
H. As a condition to the effectiveness of the Initial Notes Indentures and to secure the obligations of the Issuer and the Initial Notes Guarantors (collectively, the “Initial Notes Credit Parties”) under and in connection with the Initial Notes Documents (as hereinafter defined), the Initial Notes Credit Parties have granted to each Initial Notes Collateral Agent Liens on the Notes Collateral (as hereinafter defined).
I. Each of the ABL Agent (on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties) and each Initial Notes Collateral Agent (on behalf of the applicable Initial Notes Claimholders) and, by their acknowledgment hereof, the ABL Credit Parties and the Initial Notes Credit Parties, desire to agree to the relative priority of Liens on the Collateral and certain other rights, priorities and interests as provided herein.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 UCC Definitions. The following terms which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code or, if applicable, the PPSA, are used herein as so defined: Account, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claim, Commodity Account (including a “futures account” as defined in the PPSA), Commodity Contract (including a “futures contract” as defined in the PPSA), Deposit Account, Document (including a “document of title” as defined in the PPSA), Electronic Chattel Paper, Equipment, Financial Asset, Fixtures, General Intangible (including an “intangible” as defined in the PPSA), Instrument, Inventory, Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Right, Money, Payment Intangible (including an “intangible” as defined in the PPSA under which the account debtor’s principal obligation is a monetary obligation), Promissory Note, Records, Securities, Securities Account, Security Entitlement, Supporting Obligation and Tangible Chattel Paper.
Section 1.2 Other Definitions. Subject to Section 1.1, as used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“ABL Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“ABL Borrowers” shall mean the collective reference to (i) the Company and (ii) any other Person who is, or becomes, a party to the ABL Credit Agreement as a borrower thereunder. The term “ABL Borrowers” shall include all “Borrowers” under and as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.
“ABL Borrowing Base” shall mean the “Borrowing Base” or similar term as defined in any ABL Credit Agreement.
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“ABL Cash Management Affiliate” shall mean any ABL Cash Management Bank that is owed ABL Cash Management Obligations by any ABL Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof and which ABL Cash Management Obligations are secured by one or more ABL Collateral Documents, together with their respective successors, assigns and transferees.
“ABL Cash Management Bank” shall mean, as of any date of determination, any Person that is the ABL Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed in accordance with the ABL Credit Agreement, an ABL Lender or an Affiliate of an ABL Lender on the date any such Person shall have extended Cash Management Services constituting ABL Cash Management Obligations.
“ABL Cash Management Obligations” shall mean obligations owed by any ABL Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary to any ABL Cash Management Bank in respect of or in connection with any Cash Management Services.
“ABL Collateral” shall mean all Property now owned or hereafter acquired by any Credit Party in or upon which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted to the ABL Agent under any of the ABL Collateral Documents to secure any ABL Obligations, together with all rents, issues, profits, products and Proceeds thereof (including for the avoidance of doubt, any such assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision in any other Debtor Relief Law, would be ABL Collateral).
“ABL Collateral Documents” shall mean all “Collateral Documents” or similar term as defined in any ABL Credit Agreement, and all other security agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, deeds of hypothec, account control agreements, customs brokers agreements, collateral access agreements, and other collateral documents executed and delivered in connection with any ABL Document, in each case as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“ABL Credit Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement and shall include, any one or more other agreements, indentures or facilities extending the maturity of, consolidating, restructuring, refunding, amending, replacing or refinancing all or any portion of the ABL Obligations, whether by the same or any other agent, trustee, lender, group of lenders, creditor or group of creditors and whether or not increasing the amount of any Indebtedness that may be incurred thereunder.
“ABL Credit Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ABL Default” shall mean an “Event of Default” or other equivalent term (as defined in any of the ABL Documents).
“ABL Deposit and Securities Accounts” shall mean all Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts, collection accounts and lockbox accounts (and all related lockboxes) of the Credit Parties (other than the Notes Priority Accounts).
“ABL Documents” shall mean any ABL Credit Agreement, any ABL Guarantee, any ABL Collateral Document, all agreements regarding Cash Management Services between an ABL Credit Party or any Subsidiary and any ABL Cash Management Affiliate, any ABL Hedging Agreement, any “Loan Document” (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), any other ancillary agreement as to which any ABL Secured Party is a party or a beneficiary and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any ABL Credit Party or any of its respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and delivered to the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party, in connection with any of the foregoing or any ABL Document, in each case as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“ABL Financial Covenant” means the financial covenant set forth in Section 6.12 of the ABL Credit Agreement determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of such Section 6.12, as in effect as of the date hereof.
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“ABL Guarantee” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement and shall also include any other guarantee made by an ABL Guarantor guaranteeing, inter alia, the payment and performance of any ABL Obligations.
“ABL Guarantors” shall mean the Guarantors (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and any other Person who becomes (or is required to become) a guarantor under any ABL Guarantee. The term “ABL Guarantors” shall include all “U.S. Guarantors”, the “Canadian Guarantors”, the “German Guarantors”, the “Swiss Guarantors”, the “Dutch Guarantors” and the “UK Guarantors” under and (in each case) as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.
“ABL Hedge Bank” shall mean, as of any date of determination, any Person that is the ABL Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed in accordance with the ABL Credit Agreement or an ABL Lender or an Affiliate of an ABL Lender, in each case, that has entered into an ABL Hedging Agreement with an ABL Credit Party or Subsidiary, as applicable, with the obligations of such ABL Credit Party or Subsidiary, as applicable, thereunder being secured by one or more ABL Collateral Documents, together with their respective successors, assigns and transferees (even if such ABL Hedge Bank ceases to be an ABL Lender or an Affiliate or branch of an ABL Lender under the ABL Credit Agreement for any reason).
“ABL Hedging Agreement” shall mean any Hedging Agreement by and among any ABL Hedge Bank with an ABL Credit Party or Subsidiary.
“ABL Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement, as well as any Person designated as a “Lender” or similar term under any ABL Document.
“ABL Obligations” shall mean any and all obligations of every nature of each ABL Credit Party from time to time owed to the ABL Secured Parties, or any of them, under, in connection with, or evidenced or secured by any ABL Document, including, without limitation, all “Obligations” or similar term as defined in any ABL Credit Agreement and whether for principal, interest, reimbursement of amounts drawn under letters of credit, payments for early termination of ABL Hedging Agreements, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, and all other amounts owing or due under the terms of any ABL Document (including interest, fees, expenses and indemnifications which, but for the filing of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to such ABL Credit Party, would have become due or accrued on any ABL Obligation, whether or not a claim is allowed against such ABL Credit Party for such interest, fees, expenses and indemnifications in such Insolvency Proceeding), as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.
“ABL Priority Collateral” shall mean all Collateral consisting of the following (including for the avoidance of doubt, any such assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision in any other Debtor Relief Law, would be ABL Priority Collateral):
(1) all Credit Card Receivables, Payment Intangibles, and all Accounts (other than Accounts which constitute identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral);
(2) cash, Money, cash proceeds, and cash equivalents (other than cash, Money, cash proceeds and cash equivalents which constitute identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral);
(3) all (x) Deposit Accounts (other than Notes Priority Accounts that solely contain Notes Priority Collateral) and all Money, cash, cash proceeds, checks, other negotiable instruments, funds and other evidences of payments held therein, including (to the extent owing in respect of ABL Priority Collateral) funds on account of intercompany indebtedness between or among the Credit Parties or their Affiliates, (y) Securities Accounts (other than Notes Priority Accounts that solely contain Notes Priority Collateral), Security Entitlements, Financial Assets and Securities credited to such a Securities Account (other than Equity Interests of Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries) and (z) Commodity Accounts (other than Notes Priority Accounts that solely contain Notes Priority Collateral or identifiable proceeds of the Notes Priority Collateral) and Commodity Contracts credited thereto, and, in each case, all cash, Money, cash proceeds, cash equivalents, checks and other property held therein or credited thereto; provided, however,
4
that to the extent that identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral are deposited in any such Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, after the delivery of a Notes Cash Proceeds Notice, such identifiable proceeds (to the extent not applied to the repayment of ABL Obligations prior to the receipt of such Notes Cash Proceeds Notice), shall be treated as Notes Priority Collateral so long as such proceeds are in fact Notes Priority Collateral;
(4) all Inventory;
(5) all intercompany indebtedness arising from (x) intercompany advances utilizing proceeds of Loans (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and (y) all intercompany indebtedness arising from intercompany transfers of items referred to in the preceding clauses (1)-(4); provided that to the extent any of the foregoing in this clause (5) also relates to Notes Priority Collateral only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (x) through (y) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;
(6) all proceeds, receivables, products, substitutions or replacements of the Loans (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and other credit extensions made under the ABL Documents;
(7) at all times prior to the Collateral Designation Date (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), the Specified Collateral;
(8) to the extent relating to, evidencing or governing any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (7) constituting ABL Priority Collateral, all Documents, General Intangibles (including all rights under contracts), Instruments (including the Intercompany Note Documents and other Promissory Notes), Chattel Paper (including Tangible Chattel Paper and Electronic Chattel Paper) and Commercial Tort Claims; provided that to the extent any of the foregoing in this clause (8) also relates to Notes Priority Collateral, only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (7) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;
(9) to the extent relating to any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (8) constituting ABL Priority Collateral, all Supporting Obligations and Letter-of-Credit Rights; provided that to the extent any of the foregoing in this clause (9) also relates to Notes Priority Collateral only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (8) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;
(10) all books and Records relating to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (9) constituting ABL Priority Collateral (including all books, databases, customer lists, engineer drawings, and Records, whether tangible or electronic, which contain any information relating to any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (9) constituting ABL Priority Collateral); and
(11) all collateral security and guarantees with respect to any of the foregoing and, subject to Section 3.7, all cash, Money, cash equivalents, insurance proceeds (including all proceeds of credit insurance and provided that with respect to, proceeds of business interruption insurance, only 50% of such proceeds of business interruption insurance shall constitute ABL Priority Collateral), receivables, products, substitutions, replacements, Instruments, Securities and Financial Assets received as proceeds or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing (such items in this clause (11), the “ABL Priority Proceeds”).
“ABL Recovery” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).
“ABL Secured Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“Additional Notes Claimholders” shall mean, at any relevant time, the holders of Additional Notes Obligations at that time and the trustees, agents and other representatives of the holders of any Additional Notes Debt,
5
the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Credit Party under any Additional Notes Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Additional Notes Document outstanding at such time.
“Additional Notes Collateral Agent” shall mean, in the case of any Additional Notes Instrument and the Additional Notes Claimholders thereunder, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under such Additional Notes Instrument that is named as the “Collateral Agent” in respect of such Additional Notes Instrument in the applicable Joinder Agreement.
“Additional Notes Collateral Documents” shall mean any security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes and any other documents or instruments now existing or entered into after the date hereof that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Credit Party to secure any Additional Notes Obligations owed thereunder to any Additional Notes Claimholders or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed.
“Additional Notes Credit Parties” shall mean each Restricted Subsidiary of Company from time to time party to any Additional Notes Document as a borrower, guarantor, issuer, grantor, pledger or other obligor thereunder (including each Additional Notes Guarantor).
“Additional Notes Debt” shall mean the principal amount of Indebtedness issued or incurred under any Additional Notes Instrument.
“Additional Notes Documents” shall mean any Additional Notes Instrument, Additional Notes Collateral Document and any other agreement, document and instrument providing for or evidencing any other Additional Notes Obligations, including any document or instrument executed or delivered at any time in connection with any Additional Notes Obligations, including any intercreditor or joinder agreement among holders of Notes Obligations, to the extent such are effective at the relevant time.
“Additional Notes Guarantee” shall mean any guaranty or guarantee made by an Additional Notes Guarantor guaranteeing, inter alia, the payment and performance of any Initial Notes Obligations.
“Additional Notes Guarantor” shall mean the collective reference to Company and each Subsidiary of Company or any other Person (other than a Borrower (with respect to its own obligations) under an Additional Notes Instrument) who shall from time to time guarantee any Additional Notes Obligation.
“Additional Notes Instrument” shall mean any (A) debt facilities, indentures or commercial paper facilities providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, notes, debentures, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, increased, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with each then existing Credit Document; provided that no ABL Credit Agreement or other ABL Documents, the Initial Notes Indentures nor any Refinancing of any of the foregoing in this proviso shall constitute an Additional Notes Instrument at any time.
“Additional Notes Obligations” shall mean any and all obligations of every nature of each Credit Party from time to time owed to the Additional Notes Claimholders, or any of them, under, in connection with, or evidenced or secured by any Additional Notes Documents that are secured on a pari passu or junior basis with the Initial Notes Obligations, and whether for principal, interest, reimbursement of amounts drawn under letters of credit, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, and all other amounts owing or due under the terms of any Additional Notes Document (including interest, fees, expenses and indemnifications which, but for the filing of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to such Credit Party, would have become due or accrued on any Additional Notes Obligations, whether or not a claim is allowed against such Credit Party for such interest, fees, expenses and indemnifications in
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such Insolvency Proceeding), as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified 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. “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.
“Agent(s)” shall mean individually the ABL Agent, any Notes Collateral Agent, the Common Collateral Agent and collectively means all of the foregoing.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement.
“Bankruptcy Code” shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code, as now or hereafter in effect or any successor thereto.
“BankruptcyCourt” shall mean a court of component jurisdiction under or in respect of any Debtor Relief Law.
“Borrower” **** shall mean as applicable and as the context may require (a) individually, an ABL Borrower or any other Credit Party in its capacity as a “borrower”, “issuer” or other obligor, in a similar capacity under any Credit Document or (b) collectively, all of the foregoing Credit Parties.
“Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
“Capitalized Leases” shall mean all leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability in accordance with GAAP.
“Cash Management Services” shall mean any agreement or arrangement to provide cash management services, including automated clearinghouse transfers, controlled disbursement accounts, treasury, depository, overdraft, lease financing or related services, supply chain financing, merchant services, credit card processing, credit or debit card, purchase card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.
“Collateral” shall mean all Property now owned or hereafter acquired by any Credit Party constituting ABL Collateral or Notes Collateral.
“Collateral Agent” shall mean (i) the ABL Agent, (ii) each Initial Notes Collateral Agent, (iii) the Common Collateral Agent or (iv) any Additional Notes Collateral Agent, or all of the foregoing, as the context may require.
“Collateral Designation” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).
“Collateral Designation Date” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the ABL Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date hereof).
“Collateral DesignationExercise Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 3.8(b)(1).
“Collateral Designation Option” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 3.8(b)(1).
“Collateral Designation Option Period” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 3.8(b)(1).
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“Common Collateral Agent” means the ABL Agent with respect to Foreign Collateral as set forth in Section 3.11 and its respective successors or assigns.
“Control” shall have the meaning specified in the definition of “Affiliate”.
“Control Collateral” shall mean any Collateral consisting of any Certificated Security (as defined in Section 8-102 of the Uniform Commercial Code or, if applicable, the PPSA), Investment Property, Deposit Account, Instruments and any other Collateral as to which a Lien may be perfected through possession or control by the secured party, or any agent therefor.
“Controlling Noteholders” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.
“Controlling Notes Collateral Agent” shall mean (i) at any time the First-Out Notes Obligations are outstanding, the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, and (ii) at any time after no First-Out Notes Obligations remain outstanding, the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent.
“Copyright Licenses” shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any third party under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any Credit Party or that such Credit Party otherwise has the right to license, or granting any right to any Credit Party under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such Credit Party under any such agreement.
“Copyrights” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by or assigned to any Credit Party: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States, Canada or any other country, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise, whether registered or unregistered and whether published or unpublished, (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States, Canada or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office or any similar offices in any other country, and all: (i) rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such Credit Party’s use of such copyrights, (ii) reissues, renewals and extensions thereof and amendments thereto, (iii) income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable with respect thereto, including damages and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof, (iv) rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and (v) rights to sue for past, present or future infringements thereof.
“Court Appointed Official” shall mean a trustee, monitor, receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, custodian or other official with similar powers appointed by a Bankruptcy Court.
“Credit Card Receivables” shall mean, collectively, (a) all present and future rights of any Credit Party to payment from any credit card issuer, credit card processor or other third party arising from sales of goods or rendition of services to customers who have purchased such goods or services using a credit, debit, prepayment or other payment card and (b) all present and future rights of any Credit Party to payment from any credit card issuer, credit card processor or other third party in connection with the sale or transfer of accounts arising pursuant to the sale of goods or rendition of services to customers who have purchased such goods or services using a credit card or a debit card, including, but not limited to, all amounts at any time due or to become due from any credit card issuer or credit card processor under the credit card agreements or otherwise, in each case above calculated net of prevailing interchange charges.
“Credit Documents” shall mean the ABL Documents and the Notes Documents.
“Credit Parties” shall mean the ABL Credit Parties and the Notes Credit Parties.
“Debtor Relief Laws” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the Winding-up and Restructuring Act (Canada), the IAUK and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, arrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, administration or similar debtor relief laws of the United States,
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Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“DIP Financing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a).
“Discharge of ABL Obligations” shall mean (a) the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all outstanding ABL Obligations excluding contingent indemnity obligations with respect to then unasserted claims but including, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) with respect to amounts available to be drawn under outstanding letters of credit issued under any ABL Document (or indemnities or other undertakings issued pursuant thereto in respect of outstanding letters of credit), the cancellation of such letters of credit or the delivery or provision of cash collateral or backstop letters of credit in respect thereof in compliance with the terms of the ABL Credit Agreement (which shall not exceed an amount equal to 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount of such letters of credit) and (ii) with respect to ABL Hedging Agreements and ABL Cash Management Obligations (or indemnities or other undertakings issued pursuant thereto in respect of outstanding ABL Hedging Agreements and ABL Cash Management Obligations) the termination thereof and payment in full in cash of all ABL Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations with respect to then unasserted claims) with respect thereto or the delivery or provision of cash collateral in respect thereof in compliance with the terms of the ABL Credit Agreement, and (b) the termination of all commitments to extend credit under the ABL Documents.
“Dischargeof Notes Obligations” shall mean (a) the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all outstanding Notes Obligations excluding contingent indemnity obligations with respect to then unasserted claims, and (b) the termination of all commitments to extend credit under the Notes Documents.
“DomainNames” shall mean all Internet domain names and associated URL addresses in or to which any Credit Party now or hereafter has any right, title or interest.
“Enforcement Notice” shall mean a written notice delivered by either the ABL Agent or the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent to the other Agents announcing that an Enforcement Period has commenced.
“Enforcement Period” shall mean the period of time following the receipt by either the ABL Agent or the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent of an Enforcement Notice from the other and continuing until the earliest of (a) in the case of an Enforcement Period commenced by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, the Discharge of Notes Obligations, (b) in the case of an Enforcement Period commenced by the ABL Agent, the Discharge of ABL Obligations, (c) in the case when the ABL Agent has delivered the applicable Enforcement Notice, the ABL Agent terminates, or agrees in writing to terminate, the Enforcement Period, or (d) in the case when the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, has delivered the applicable Enforcement Notice, the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent terminates, or agrees in writing to terminate, the Enforcement Period.
“Equity Interest” shall mean, 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) such Person and all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase, acquisition or exchange from such Person of any of the foregoing (including through convertible securities).
“Event ofDefault” shall mean, as applicable and as the context may require, an ABL Default or a Notes Default.
“Exercise of Any Secured Creditor Remedies”, “Exercise Any Secured CreditorRemedies” or “Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies” shall mean, except as otherwise provided in the final sentence of this definition:
(a) the taking by any Secured Party of any action to enforce or realize upon any Lien, including the institution of any foreclosure proceedings or the noticing of any public or private sale pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA or other applicable law;
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(b) the exercise by any Secured Party of any right or remedy provided to a secured creditor on account of a Lien under any of the Credit Documents, under applicable law, in an Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, including the election to retain any of the Collateral in satisfaction of a Lien;
(c) the taking of any action by any Secured Party or the exercise of any right or remedy by any Secured Party in respect of the collection on, set off against, marshaling of, injunction respecting or foreclosure on the Collateral or the Proceeds thereof;
(d) the appointment on the application of a Secured Party, of a receiver, receiver and manager or interim receiver of all or part of the Collateral;
(e) subject to the priority of floating charges set out in Section 2.1(a)(5), making a UK Appointment in accordance with the provisions of the IAUK;
(f) the sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition of all or any portion of the Collateral by private or public sale conducted by any Secured Party or any other means at the direction of any Secured Party permissible under applicable law;
(g) the exercise of any other right of a secured creditor under Part 6 of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA or under provisions of similar effect under other applicable law; and
(h) the exercise by any Secured Party of any voting rights relating to any Equity Interest included in the Collateral.
For the avoidance of doubt, none of the following shall be deemed to constitute an Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies: (i) the filing of a proof of claim in any Insolvency Proceeding or the seeking of adequate protection in accordance with the provisions of Article VI hereof, (ii) the exercise of rights by the ABL Agent upon the occurrence of a Dominion Period (as defined in any ABL Credit Agreement), including, without limitation, the notification of account debtors, depository institutions or any other Person to deliver proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral to the ABL Agent, (iii) the consent by the ABL Agent to a store closing sale, going out of business sale or other disposition by any Credit Party of any of the ABL Priority Collateral, (iv) the reduction of advance rates or sub-limits by the ABL Agent and the ABL Lenders, or (v) the imposition of Reserves (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) by the ABL Agent.
“First-Out Notes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“First-Out NotesClaimholders” shall mean, at any relevant time, the holders of First-Out Notes Obligations at that time including the “Secured Parties” as defined in the First-Out Notes Security Agreement and the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, the First-Out Notes Trustee, and the other trustees, agents and representatives of the holders of the First-Out Notes Obligations (including any holders of First-Out Notes Obligations pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the incurrence of additional Indebtedness under the First-Out Notes Indenture), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Credit Party under any First-Out Notes Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any First-Out Notes Document outstanding at such time.
“First-Out Notes Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“First-OutNotes Collateral Documents” shall mean the “Collateral Documents” (as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture) and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted securing any First-Out Notes Obligations or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed.
“First-Out Notes Documents” shall mean the First-Out Notes Indenture, the First-Out Notes Collateral Documents and the other Notes Documents (as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture) and each of the other agreements, documents and instruments providing for or evidencing any other First-Out Notes Obligation, including, to the extent applicable, any other document or instrument executed or delivered at any time in connection with any
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First-Out Notes Obligations, including any intercreditor or joinder agreement among holders of First-Out Notes Obligations, to the extent such are effective at the relevant time.
“First-Out Notes Guarantor” shall mean the collective reference to any other Person who becomes (or is required to become) a guarantor under any First-Out Notes Guarantee. The term “First-Out Notes Guarantors” shall include all “Guarantors” under and as defined in the First-Out Notes Indenture.
“First-Out Notes Indenture” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“First-Out NotesIssuer” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“First-Out Notes Obligations” shall mean any and all obligations of every nature of each Credit Party from time to time owed to First-Out Notes Claimholders, or any of them, under, in connection with, or evidenced or secured by any First-Out Notes Document, including, without limitation, all “Obligations” as defined in the First-Out Notes Security Agreement and whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, and all other amounts owing or due under the terms of any First-Out Notes Document (including interest, fees, expenses and indemnifications which, but for the filing of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to such Credit Party, would have become due or accrued on any First-Out Notes Obligation, whether or not a claim is allowed against such Credit Party for such interest, fees, expenses and indemnifications in such Insolvency Proceeding), as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.
“First-Out Notes Security Agreement” shall mean the Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the First-Out Notes Issuer, the other Credit Parties party thereto and the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, as it may be amended, supplemented, amended and restated, replaced, renewed or otherwise modified from time to time.
“First-Out Notes Trustee” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Foreign Security Documents” shall mean each security document, pledge agreement, hypothec, charge or other document or instrument delivered in accordance with applicable local or foreign law to grant or perfect Liens on any Foreign Collateral in favor of the Secured Parties and/or the Common Collateral Agent acting in their respective capacities and all documents delivered therewith.
“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time.
“German Credit Parties” shall mean collectively the Credit Parties that are incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.
“German Security Agreement” shall mean, collectively, any German law pledge or security agreement entered into on or about the date of this Agreement by any Credit Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Credit Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Governmental Authority” shall mean the government of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether provincial, territorial, state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national body exercising such powers or functions, such as the European Union, the Council of Ministers of the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“HedgingAgreement” shall mean (a) 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
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options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing) whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement or any other master agreement, including any obligations of the type referred to in the definition of “Swap Agreement” in the ABL Credit Agreement.
“IAUK” means the Insolvency Act 1986 (UK), as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.
“Indebtedness” shall mean (i) all obligations of a Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments; (ii) the maximum amount of all letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person; (iii) obligations of such Person under any Hedging Agreement; (iv) indebtedness secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse, and (v) any guarantees of the foregoing.
“Initial Notes” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Initial Notes Claimholders” shall mean, collectively, the First-Out Notes Claimholders and the Second-Out Notes Claimholders.
“Initial Notes Collateral Agent(s)” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“Initial Notes Collateral Documents” shall mean the collective reference to the First-Out Notes Collateral Documents and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Documents.
“Initial Notes Credit Parties” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Initial Notes Documents” shall mean the collective reference to the First-Out Notes Documents and the Second-Out Notes Documents.
“Initial Notes Guarantee” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement and shall also include any other guarantee made by an Initial Notes Guarantor guaranteeing, inter alia, the payment and performance of any Initial Notes Obligations.
“Initial Notes Guarantor” shall mean the collective reference to the First-Out Notes Guarantors and the Second-Out Notes Guarantors.
“Initial Notes Indentures” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Initial Notes Obligations” shall mean, collectively, the First-Out Notes Obligations and the Second-Out Notes Obligations.
“Initial Notes Security Agreement” shall mean, collectively, the First-Out Notes Security Agreement and the Second-Out Notes Security Agreement.
“Initial Notes Trustee(s)” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Insolvency Proceeding” shall mean (a) any case, action or proceeding before any court or other Governmental Authority relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, administration, winding-up or relief of debtors, (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshalling of assets for creditors or other similar arrangement in respect of a Person’s creditors generally or any substantial portion of a Person’s creditors, (c) any case, action or proceeding pursuant to which a
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Court Appointed Official has been appointed with respect to any Credit Party or any of its assets, in each case covered by clauses (a), (b) and (c), undertaken under any Debtor Relief Laws or (d) any liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, administration or winding up of any Credit Party, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy.
“Intellectual Property” shall mean all intellectual and similar property of every kind and nature now owned, licensed or hereafter acquired by any Credit Party that is subject to a security interest under any ABL Documents or any Notes Document, including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, Domain Names, trade secrets, social media accounts, digital platforms, confidential and proprietary information, including, without limitation, all trade secrets, technology, ideas, know-how, formulae, goodwill, and customer lists, any and all intellectual property rights in computer software and computer software products (including, without limitation, source codes, object codes, data and related documentation), any and all design rights owned or used by such Credit Party, all other intellectual property rights of every description as set forth in the ABL Documents or the Notes Documents as in effect as of the date hereof which may now or in the future subsist (in each case whether registered or not), all other proprietary information and all embodiments or fixations thereof and related documentation and registrations and all additions, improvements and accessions to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.
“Intellectual Property Collateral” shall mean Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property.
“IP Advance” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the ABL Credit Agreement; provided, however, that for purposes of determining the amount required to be paid by the Notes Claimholders in satisfaction of the requirement in Section 3.8(b)(2)(i), such amount shall be determined without giving effect to any amendment to the ABL Credit Agreement (which has not been consented to by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the requisite applicable Notes Claimholders pursuant to the applicable Initial Notes Indenture), if the effect of such amendment would result in more credit being available to the Credit Parties based on the value of Intellectual Property Collateral included in the determination of the ABL Borrowing Base.
“Issuer” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Joinder Agreement” shall mean an agreement in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A after giving effect to Section 5.2.
“License” shall mean any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License, or other license or sublicense agreement granting rights under Intellectual Property to which any Credit Party is a party.
“Lien” shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, collateral assignment, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any Capitalized Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing); provided that in no event shall an operating lease in and of itself be deemed a Lien.
“Lien Priority” shall mean with respect to any Lien of the ABL Secured Parties or the Notes Claimholders in the Collateral, the order of priority of such Lien as specified in Section 2.1.
“Limited IP Standstill Period” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.3(b).
“New Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.2(c).
“New Debt Notice” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.2(c).
“Notes Cash ProceedsNotice” shall mean a written notice delivered by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent to the ABL Agent (a) stating that a Notes Default has occurred and is continuing under one or more Notes Documents and specifying the relevant Notes Default and (b) stating that certain cash proceeds which may be
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deposited in an ABL Deposit and Securities Account constitute Notes Priority Collateral, and reasonably identifying the amount of such proceeds and specifying the origin thereof.
“Notes Claimholders” shall mean, at any relevant time, the holders of Notes Obligations at that time, including the Initial Notes Trustees, each Notes Collateral Agent, the Additional Notes Claimholders and the Initial Notes Claimholders.
“Notes Collateral” shall mean all Property now owned or hereafter acquired by any Credit Party in or upon which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted to an Initial Notes Collateral Agent or any Additional Notes Collateral Agent under any of the Notes Collateral Documents, as applicable, to secure any Notes Obligations, as applicable, together with all rents, issues, profits, products and Proceeds thereof (including for the avoidance of doubt, any such assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision in any other Debtor Relief Law, would be Notes Collateral).
“Notes Collateral Agents” shall mean each Initial Notes Collateral Agent and each Additional Notes Collateral Agent.
“Notes Collateral Documents” shall mean the Initial Notes Collateral Documents and any Additional Notes Collateral Documents.
“Notes CreditParties” shall mean the Initial Notes Credit Parties and the Additional Notes Credit Parties.
“Notes Default” shall mean an “Event of Default” or other equivalent term (as defined in any of the Notes Documents).
“Notes Documents” shall mean the Initial Notes Documents and any Additional Notes Documents.
“Notes Guarantee” shall mean the Initial Notes Guarantee and each Additional Notes Guarantee.
“Notes Guarantor” shall mean the collective reference to each Initial Notes Guarantor and each Additional Notes Guarantor.
“Notes Mortgages” shall mean all mortgages, trust deeds, deeds of trust, deeds to secure debt, assignments of leases and rents, and other security documents now existing or to be entered into by and among the Credit Party party thereto and any Notes Collateral Agent that create Liens on real property of any Credit Party to secure any Notes Obligations.
“Notes Obligations” shall mean the Initial Notes Obligations and any Additional Notes Obligations.
“Notes PriorityAccounts” shall mean any Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts or Commodity Accounts, in each case that are intended to solely contain Notes Priority Collateral or identifiable proceeds of the Notes Priority Collateral (it being understood that any property in such Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts or Commodities Accounts which is not Notes Priority Collateral or identifiable proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral shall not be Notes Priority Collateral solely by virtue of being on deposit in any such Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account).
“Notes PriorityCollateral” shall mean all Collateral other than ABL Priority Collateral (including for the avoidance of doubt, any such assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision in any other Debtor Relief Law, would be ABL Priority Collateral), including:
(1) (1) all Equipment, Fixtures, Real Property, intercompany indebtedness between or among the Credit Parties or their Affiliates (other than ABL Priority Collateral described in clause (5) of the definition thereof), and all Equity Interests held by the Credit Parties and other Investment Property (other than any Investment Property constituting ABL Priority Collateral, including Investment Property described in clause 3(y) of the definition of ABL Priority Collateral);
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(2) except to the extent constituting ABL Priority Collateral, all Instruments, Commercial Tort Claims, Documents and General Intangibles;
(3) Notes Priority Accounts; provided, however, that to the extent that identifiable proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral are deposited in any such Notes Priority Accounts, such identifiable proceeds shall be treated as ABL Priority Collateral;
(4) on and after the Collateral Designation Date, Specified Collateral;
(5) all other Collateral, other than the ABL Priority Collateral (including ABL Priority Proceeds); and
(6) all collateral security and guarantees with respect to the foregoing, and all cash, Money, insurance proceeds, receivables, products, substitutions, replacements, Instruments, Securities and Financial Assets received as proceeds of any of the foregoing, but, in any event, excluding the ABL Priority Collateral (including ABL Priority Proceeds) (such proceeds, “Notes Priority Proceeds”).
“Obligations” shall mean the ABL Obligations and the Notes Obligations.
“Party” shall mean the ABL Agent, each Initial Notes Collateral Agent, or each Additional Notes Collateral Agent, and “Parties” shall mean each of the ABL Agent, each Initial Notes Collateral Agent, and each Additional Notes Collateral Agent.
“Patent License” shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party any right to develop, commercialize, import, make, have made, offer for sale, use or sell any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any Credit Party or that any Credit Party otherwise has the right to license, is in existence, or granting to any Credit Party any such right with respect to any invention on which a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any third party, is in existence, and all rights of any Credit Party under any such agreement.
“Patents” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Credit Party: (a) all letters patent of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, industrial designs or the equivalent thereof in any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters patent or industrial designs of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union or the equivalent thereof in any other country, including registrations, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office or any similar offices in any other country, and (b) all (i) rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such Credit Party’s use of any patents and industrial designs, (ii) inventions and improvements described and claimed therein, (iii) reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions and continuations-in-part thereof and amendments thereto, (iv) income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof, (v) rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and (vi) rights to sue for past, present or future infringements thereof.
“Person” shall mean any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario), including the regulations thereto and related Minister’s Orders, provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any Lien created under any Credit Document on the Collateral is governed by the personal property security legislation or other applicable legislation with respect to personal property security in effect in any applicable jurisdiction in Canada, “PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act or such other applicable legislation (including, the Civil Code of Quebec) in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction in Canada for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.
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“Priority Collateral” shall mean with respect to the ABL Secured Parties, all ABL Priority Collateral, and with respect to the Notes Claimholders, all Notes Priority Collateral.
“Proceeds” shall mean (a) all “proceeds,” as defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code or, if applicable, the PPSA, with respect to the Collateral, and (b) whatever is recoverable or recovered when any Collateral is sold, exchanged, replaced, collected, or disposed of, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
“Pro Forma Borrowing Base Modifications” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 3.8(b)(ii).
“Property” shall mean any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.
“Real Property” shall mean any right, title or interest in and to real property, including any fee interest, leasehold interest, easement, or license and any other right to use or occupy real property.
“Refinance” shall mean, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, defease, amend, modify, supplement, restructure, replace, refund or repay, or to issue other indebtedness, in exchange or replacement for, such Indebtedness in whole or in part. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.
“Refinanced Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.2(c).
“Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean (a) with respect to ABL Guarantors, any “Restricted Subsidiary” (or similar designation) under and as defined in any ABL Credit Agreement and (b) with respect to the Notes Guarantor, any “Restricted Subsidiary” (or similar designation) under and as defined in any Notes Document.
“Second-OutNotes” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Second-Out Notes Claimholders” shall mean, at any relevant time, the holders of Second-Out Notes Obligations at that time including the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Second-Out Notes Indenture and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent, the Second-Out Notes Trustee, and the other trustees, agents and representatives of the holders of the Second-Out Notes Obligations (including any holders of Second-Out Notes Obligations pursuant to supplements executed in connection with the incurrence of additional Indebtedness under the Second-Out Notes Indenture), the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Credit Party under any Second-Out Notes Document and each other holder of, or obligee in respect of, any holder or lender pursuant to any Second-Out Notes Document outstanding at such time.
“Second-Out Notes CollateralAgent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“Second-Out Notes Collateral Documents” shall mean the “Collateral Documents” (as defined in the Second-Out Notes Indenture) and any other agreement, document or instrument pursuant to which a Lien is granted securing any Second-Out Notes Obligations or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed.
“Second-Out Notes Documents” shall mean the Second-Out Notes Indenture, the Second-Out Notes Collateral Documents and the other Notes Documents (as defined in the Second-Out Notes Indenture) and each of the other agreements, documents and instruments providing for or evidencing any other Second-Out Notes Obligation, including, to the extent applicable, any other document or instrument executed or delivered at any time in connection with any Second-Out Notes Obligations, including any intercreditor or joinder agreement among holders of Second-Out Notes Obligations, to the extent such are effective at the relevant time.
“Second-Out NotesGuarantor” shall mean the collective reference to any Person who becomes (or is required to become) a guarantor under any Second-Out Notes Guarantee. The term “Second-Out Notes Guarantors” shall include all “Guarantors” under and as defined in the Second-Out Notes Indenture.
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“Second-Out NotesIndenture” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Second-Out Notes Issuer” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Second-Out Notes Obligations” shall mean any and all obligations of every nature of each Credit Party from time to time owed to Second-Out Notes Claimholders, or any of them, under, in connection with, or evidenced or secured by any Second-Out Notes Document, including, without limitation, all “Obligations” as defined in the Second-Out Notes Security Agreement and whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, and all other amounts owing or due under the terms of any Second-Out Notes Document (including interest, fees, expenses and indemnifications which, but for the filing of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to such Credit Party, would have become due or accrued on any Second-Out Notes **** Obligation, whether or not a claim is allowed against such Credit Party for such interest, fees, expenses and indemnifications in such Insolvency Proceeding), as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.
“Second-Out Notes Security Agreement” shall mean the Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Second-Out Notes Issuer, the other Credit Parties party thereto and the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent, as it may be amended, supplemented, amended and restated, replaced, renewed or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Second-Out Notes Trustee” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Secured Parties” shall mean, collectively, the ABL Secured Parties and the Notes Claimholders.
“Specified Collateral” shall mean all Intellectual Property Collateral.
“Subsidiary” of a Person shall mean a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unlimited liability company or other business entity (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, charitable foundations) 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, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.
“Swiss Credit Party” shall mean any Credit Party incorporated and organized under the laws of Switzerland or which is considered to be tax resident in Switzerland for Swiss Withholding Tax purposes.
“Swiss Security Document” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).
“Swiss Withholding Tax” shall mean taxes imposed under the Swiss Withholding Tax Act.
“Swiss Withholding Tax Act” shall mean the Swiss Federal Act on the Withholding Tax of 13 October 1965 (Bundesgesetz über die Verrechnungssteuer), together with the related ordinances, regulations and guidelines, all as amended and applicable from time to time.
“Term Recovery” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(b).
“Trademark License” shall mean any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Credit Party or that any Credit Party otherwise has the right to license, or granting to any Credit Party any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Credit Party under any such agreement (not including vendor or distribution agreements that allow incidental use of intellectual property rights in connection with the sale or distribution of such products or services).
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“Trademarks” shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Credit Party: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, the goodwill of the business symbolized thereby or associated therewith, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office or any similar offices in any State of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or European Union or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or renewals thereof, (b) any and all rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such Credit Party’s use of any trademarks, (c) all extensions and renewals thereof and amendments thereto, (d) all income, fees, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages, claims and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof, (e) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and (f) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements or dilution thereof or other injuries thereto.
“UK ABL FloatingCharge” means each floating charge granted by a UK Credit Party to secure the ABL Obligations.
“UK Appointment” means the appointment of an administrator of a UK Credit Party pursuant to paragraph 14 of Schedule B1 to the IAUK.
“UK Credit Party” shall mean any Credit Party which is incorporated in England and Wales.
“UK Notes Floating Charge” means each floating charge granted by a UK Credit Party to secure the Notes Obligations.
“Uniform Commercial Code” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided that, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, perfection, or the effect of perfection or non perfection or the priority of a security interest in any Collateral or the availability of any remedy hereunder is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than New York, “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or effect of perfection or non perfection or priority or availability of such remedy, as the case may be.
“Use Period” shall mean the period commencing on the date that the ABL Agent or an agent acting on its behalf furnish the Notes Collateral Agents with an Enforcement Notice and ending 180 days thereafter. If any stay or other order that prohibits any of the ABL Agent, the other ABL Secured Parties or any ABL Credit Party (with the consent of the ABL Agent) from commencing and continuing to Exercise Any Secured Creditor Remedies or from liquidating and selling the ABL Priority Collateral has been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, such 180-day period shall be tolled during the pendency of any such stay or other order and the Use Period shall be so extended.
Section 1.3 Rules of Construction. Unless the context of this Agreement clearly requires otherwise, references to the plural include the singular, references to the singular include the plural, the term “including” is not limiting and shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation,” and the term “or” has, except where otherwise indicated, the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and similar terms in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. Article, section, subsection, clause, schedule and exhibit references herein are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any reference in this Agreement to any agreement, instrument, or document shall include all alterations, amendments, changes, restatements, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements thereto and thereof, as applicable (subject to any restrictions on such alterations, amendments, changes, restatements, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements set forth herein). Any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns. Any reference herein to the repayment in full of an obligation shall mean the payment in full in cash of such obligation, or in such other manner as may be approved in writing by the requisite holders or representatives in respect of such obligation. For purposes of any Collateral located in the Province of Quebec or charged by any deed of hypothec (or any other Credit Document) and for all other purposes pursuant to which the
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interpretation or construction of a Credit Document may be subject to the laws of the Province of Quebec or a court or tribunal exercising jurisdiction in the Province of Quebec, (i) “personal property” shall be deemed to include “movable property”, (ii) “real property” shall be deemed to include “immovable property”, (iii) “tangible property” shall be deemed to include “corporeal property”, (iv) “intangible property” shall be deemed to include “incorporeal property”, (v) “security interest” and “mortgage” shall be deemed to include a “hypothec”, (vi) all references to filing, registering or recording under the UCC or the PPSA shall be deemed to include publication under the Civil Code of Quebec, (vii) all references to “perfection” of or “perfected” Liens shall be deemed to include a reference to the “opposability” of such Liens to third parties, (viii) any “right of offset”, “right of setoff” or similar expression shall be deemed to include a “right of compensation”, (ix) “goods” shall be deemed to include “corporeal movable property” other than chattel paper, documents of title, instruments, money and securities, (x) an “agent” shall be deemed to include a “mandatary” and (xi) “foreclosure” shall be deemed to include the exercise of a “hypothecary right”.
ARTICLE 2
LIEN PRIORITY
Section 2.1 Priority of Liens.
(a) Notwithstanding (i) the date, time, method, manner, or order of grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens granted to the ABL Secured Parties in respect of all or any portion of the Collateral or of any Liens granted to the Notes Claimholders in respect of all or any portion of the Collateral and regardless of how any such Lien was acquired (whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise), (ii) the order or time of filing or recordation of any document or instrument for perfecting the Liens in favor of the ABL Agent or any Notes Collateral Agent (or ABL Secured Parties or Notes Claimholders) in any Collateral, (iii) any provision of the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA, Debtor Relief Laws or any other applicable law, or of the ABL Documents or the Notes Documents, (iv) whether the ABL Agent or any Notes Collateral Agent, in each case, either directly or through agents, holds possession of, or has control over, all or any part of the Collateral, (v) the date on which the ABL Obligations or the Notes Obligations are advanced or made available to the Credit Parties, (vi) the fact that any such Liens in favor of the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party or any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder securing any of the ABL Obligations or Notes Obligations, respectively, are contractually subordinated to any Lien securing any obligation of any Credit Party other than the Notes Obligations or the ABL Obligations, respectively, the ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, and each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, hereby agree that:
(1) any Lien in respect of all or any portion of the ABL Priority Collateral now or hereafter held by or on behalf of any Notes Collateral Agent or any other Notes Claimholder that secures (or purports to secure) all or any portion of the Notes Obligations shall in all respects be junior and subordinate to all Liens granted to the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party in such ABL Priority Collateral to secure all or any portion of the ABL Obligations;
(2) any Lien in respect of all or any portion of the ABL Priority Collateral now or hereafter held by or on behalf of the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party that secures (or purports to secure) all or any portion of the ABL Obligations shall in all respects be senior and prior to all Liens granted to any Notes Collateral Agent or any other Notes Claimholder in such ABL Priority Collateral to secure all or any portion of the Notes Obligations;
(3) any Lien in respect of all or any portion of the Notes Priority Collateral now or hereafter held by or on behalf of the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party that secures (or purports to secure) all or any portion of the ABL Obligations shall in all respects be junior and subordinate to all Liens granted to any Notes Collateral Agent or any other Notes Claimholder in such Notes Priority Collateral to secure all or any portion of the Notes Obligations;
(4) any Lien in respect of all or any portion of the Notes Priority Collateral now or hereafter held by or on behalf of any Notes Collateral Agent or any other Notes Claimholder that secures (or purports to secure) all or any portion of the Notes Obligations shall in all respects be senior and prior to all Liens granted to the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party in such Notes Priority Collateral to secure all or any portion of the ABL Obligations;
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(5) as between the UK ABL Floating Charges and the UK Notes Floating Charges, the UK ABL Floating Charges shall be deemed to be the prior floating charges for the purposes of paragraph 15 of Schedule B1 to the IAUK; and
(6) for purposes of applicable law in the province of Quebec, the ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, and each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, hereby agree to cede priority and preference of rank of their respective Liens on the Collateral as required in order to give effect to the Lien subordination set out in this Section 2.1.
(b) The Lien subordination provisions contained herein relate solely to the priority of Liens granted to the ABL Agent and any Notes Collateral Agent by the Credit Parties and shall apply only to the extent that the Liens of the ABL Agent and such Notes Collateral Agent are valid, perfected, and enforceable. It is the ABL Agent’s responsibility to ensure the validity, perfection and enforceability of the Liens granted by the Credit Parties to the ABL Agent for the benefit of itself and the ABL Secured Parties. It is each Note Collateral Agent’s responsibility to ensure the validity, perfection and enforceability of the Liens granted by the Credit Parties to the Notes Collateral Agent for the benefit of itself and the Notes Claimholders.
(c) Each Notes Collateral Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, acknowledges and agrees that, concurrently herewith (or, from time to time hereafter), the ABL Agent, for the benefit of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, has been, or may be, granted Liens upon all of the Collateral in which such Notes Collateral Agent has been granted Liens and each Notes Collateral Agent hereby consents thereto. The ABL Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, acknowledges and agrees that, concurrently herewith (or, from time to time hereafter), the Notes Collateral Agents, for the benefit of such Notes Collateral Agent and the applicable Notes Claimholders, has been, or may be, granted Liens upon all of the Collateral in which the ABL Agent has been granted Liens and the ABL Agent hereby consents thereto.
Section 2.2 Waiver of Right to ContestLiens.
(a) Each Notes Collateral Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that it and they shall not (and hereby waives any right to) take any action to contest or challenge (or assist or support any other Person in contesting or challenging), directly or indirectly, whether or not in any proceeding (including, without limitation, in any Insolvency Proceeding), the validity, priority, enforceability, or perfection of the Liens of the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Parties in respect of the Collateral or the provisions of this Agreement or the allowability of the claims asserted by the ABL Agent or the ABL Secured Parties. Each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that none of the Notes Collateral Agents or the Notes Claimholders will (i) contest, protest or object to, or otherwise take (or cause to be taken) any action that would interfere with any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies undertaken by the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party under the ABL Documents with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral or (ii) object to the forbearance by the ABL Agent or any of the ABL Secured Parties from bringing or pursuing any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral. Each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, hereby waives any and all rights it or such Notes Claimholders may have as a junior lien creditor or otherwise to contest, protest, object to (or support any other Person contesting, protesting or objecting to), or interfere with the manner in which the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party seeks to enforce its Liens in any ABL Priority Collateral. The foregoing shall not be construed to prohibit any Notes Collateral Agent from enforcing the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise acting in accordance with this Agreement.
(b) The ABL Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that it and they shall not (and hereby waives any right to) take (or cause to be taken) any action to contest or challenge (or assist or support any other Person in contesting or challenging), directly or indirectly, whether or not in any proceeding (including in any Insolvency Proceeding), the validity, priority, enforceability, or perfection of the Liens of any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholders in respect of the Collateral or the provisions of this Agreement or the allowability of the claims asserted by any Notes Collateral Agent or any other Notes Claimholder. Except to the extent expressly set forth in Section 3.6 of this Agreement, the ABL Agent, for itself and on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that none of the ABL Agent or the ABL Secured Parties will (i) contest, protest or object to, or otherwise take (or cause to be taken) any action that would interfere with any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies undertaken by any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder under the Notes Documents with respect to the Notes Priority
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Collateral or (ii) object to the forbearance by any Notes Collateral Agent or any of the Notes Claimholders from bringing or pursuing any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral. Except to the extent expressly set forth in Section 3.6 of this Agreement, the ABL Agent, for itself and on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties, hereby waives any and all rights it or the ABL Secured Parties may have as a junior lien creditor or otherwise to contest, protest, object to (or support any other Person contesting, protesting or objecting to), or interfere with the manner in which any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder seeks to enforce its Liens in any Notes Priority Collateral. The foregoing shall not be construed to prohibit the ABL Agent from enforcing the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise acting in accordance with this Agreement.
Section 2.3 Remedies Standstill.
(a) Each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that, from the date hereof until the date upon which the Discharge of ABL Obligations shall have occurred, neither the Notes Collateral Agents nor any Notes Claimholders will Exercise Any Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to any of the ABL Priority Collateral without the written consent of the ABL Agent, other than, subject to the priority of floating charges set out in Section 2.1(a)(5), the making of a UK Appointment, and will not take, hold, receive or accept any Proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral in violation of this Agreement. From and after the date upon which the Discharge of ABL Obligations shall have occurred (or prior thereto upon obtaining the written consent of the ABL Agent), this Agreement shall not prohibit the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent from the Exercise of Any Secured Creditor Remedies under the applicable Notes Documents or applicable law as to any ABL Priority Collateral; provided, however, that any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to any Collateral by a Notes Collateral Agent or a Notes Claimholder is at all times subject to the provisions of this Agreement. Each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that it will not take or receive any ABL Priority Collateral or any Proceeds of such Collateral in connection with the Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to any such Collateral in violation of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless and until the Discharge of ABL Obligations has occurred, except as expressly provided in Sections 3.1, 3.3, 6.3 and subject to the priority of floating charges set out in Section 2.1(a)(5), except for the making of a UK Appointment, the sole right of the Notes Collateral Agents and the Notes Claimholders with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral is to hold a Lien on such Collateral pursuant to the Notes Collateral Documents for the period and to the extent granted therein and to receive a share of the Proceeds thereof, if any, after the Discharge of ABL Obligations has occurred.
(b) The ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that, from the date hereof until the date upon which the Discharge of Notes Obligations shall have occurred, except to the extent expressly set forth in Section 3.6 of this Agreement, neither the ABL Agent nor any ABL Secured Party will Exercise Any Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral without the written consent of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, other than, subject to the priority of floating charges set out in Section 2.1(a)(5), the making of a UK Appointment, and will not take, receive or accept any Proceeds of the Notes Priority Collateral in violation of this Agreement. From and after the date upon which the Discharge of Notes Obligations shall have occurred (or prior thereto upon obtaining the written consent of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent), the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party may Exercise Any Secured Creditor Remedies under the ABL Documents or applicable law as to any Notes Priority Collateral; provided, however, that any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to any Collateral by the ABL Agent or the ABL Secured Parties is at all times subject to the provisions of this Agreement. The ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that it will not take or receive any Notes Priority Collateral or any Proceeds of such Collateral in connection with the Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to any such Collateral in violation of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless and until the Discharge of Notes Obligations has occurred, except as expressly provided in Sections 3.1, 3.3, 3.6, 6.3 and subject to the priority of floating charges set out in Section 2.1(a)(5), except for the making of a UK Appointment, the sole right of the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties with respect to the Notes Collateral is to hold a Lien on such Collateral pursuant to the ABL Collateral Documents for the period and to the extent granted therein and to receive a share of the Proceeds thereof, if any, after the Discharge of Notes Obligations has occurred. ABL Agent further agrees that, to the extent a Collateral Designation Date shall not have occurred, the ABL Agent hereby agrees that it shall not exercise any foreclosure rights on any Intellectual Property Collateral until a period of fifteen (15) days shall have elapsed after the earlier to occur of (x) the delivery of an Enforcement Notice by the ABL Agent to the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent and (y) an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to any Credit Party (such fifteen (15) day period being hereinafter referred to as the “Limited IP Standstill Period”). For the avoidance
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of doubt, the ABL Agent shall not be permitted to exercise any foreclosure rights on any Intellectual Property Collateral on and after the Collateral Designation Date.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.3(a), 2.3(b) or any other provision of this Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent any Agent or any Secured Party from (i) filing a claim or statement of interest with respect to the ABL Obligations or Notes Obligations owed to it in any Insolvency Proceeding commenced by or against or in respect of any Credit Party, (ii) taking any action (not adverse to the priority status of the Liens of the other Agent or other Secured Parties on the Collateral in which such other Agent or other Secured Party has a priority Lien or the rights of the other Agent or any of the other Secured Parties to Exercise Any Secured Creditor Remedies in respect thereof) in order to create, perfect, preserve or protect (but not enforce its Lien) on any Collateral, (iii) filing any necessary or appropriate responsive pleadings in opposition to any motion, adversary proceeding or other pleading filed by any Person objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance of the claim or Lien of such Agent or Secured Party, (iv) with respect to the Note Claimholders, present a cash only bid at any Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code hearing or with respect to any other sale or disposition of ABL Priority Collateral, (v) with respect to the ABL Secured Parties, present a cash only bid at any Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code hearing or with respect to any other sale or disposition of Notes Priority Collateral, (vi) with respect to the Note Claimholders, present a credit bid on all or any portion of the ABL Priority Collateral provided the Discharge of ABL Obligations shall have occurred prior to or in connection with the initial closing of any such credit bid (it being agreed that Notes Claimholders shall not be otherwise permitted to credit bid on any ABL Priority Collateral), (vii) with respect to the ABL Secured Parties, present a credit bid on all or any portion of the Notes Priority Collateral provided the Discharge of Notes Obligations shall have occurred prior to or in connection with the initial closing of any such credit bid (it being agreed that ABL Secured Parties shall not be otherwise permitted to credit bid on any Notes Priority Collateral); or (viii) voting on any plan of reorganization or arrangement, proposal or other plan of similar effect under any Debtor Relief Laws or filing any proof of claim in any Insolvency Proceeding of any Credit Party, in each case (i) through (viii) above to the extent not inconsistent with the express terms of this Agreement.
Section 2.4 Exercise of Rights.
(a) Exclusive Rights to Exercise Remedies.
(1) Until the Discharge of ABL Obligations has occurred, whether or not any Insolvency Proceeding has been commenced by or against or in respect of any Credit Party, each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties shall have the exclusive right to enforce rights, exercise remedies (including set-off and the right to credit bid their debt, but subject to the priority of floating charges set out in Section 2.1(a)(5), excluding the making of a UK Appointment) and, in connection therewith (including, subject to the terms hereof, voluntary dispositions of ABL Priority Collateral by the respective Credit Parties with the consent of the ABL Agent) make determinations regarding the release, disposition, or restrictions with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral (including, without limitation, exercising remedies under ABL Deposit and Securities Accounts) without any consultation with or the consent of any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder; provided, however, that (i) the Lien securing any Notes Obligations shall remain on the Proceeds (other than those applied to the ABL Obligations) of such Collateral released or disposed of subject to the Lien Priority and to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) any exercise of any foreclosure rights on any Intellectual Property Collateral shall be subject to the Limited IP Standstill Period. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the ABL Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in the exercise of their sole discretion. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent, receiver, interim receiver or other insolvency official appointed by them to sell or otherwise dispose of the ABL Priority Collateral upon foreclosure or other enforcement, to incur expenses in connection with such sale or disposition, and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA, Debtor Relief Laws and other applicable laws of any applicable jurisdiction. Each Notes Collateral Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any of the Notes Collateral Documents or any other Notes Document (other than this Agreement) shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the ABL Agent or the ABL Secured Parties with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral as set forth in this Agreement and the
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ABL Documents, and each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that it will not, except as not prohibited herein, take any action that would hinder or delay any exercise of remedies under the ABL Documents or that is otherwise prohibited hereunder, including any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of the ABL Priority Collateral, whether by foreclosure or otherwise.
(2) Until the Discharge of Notes Obligations has occurred, whether or not any Insolvency Proceeding has been commenced by or against or in respect of any Credit Party, the ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent shall (in each case, subject to Section 3.6) have the exclusive right to enforce rights, exercise remedies (including set-off and the right to credit bid the Notes Obligations, but subject to the priority of floating charges set out in Section 2.1(a)(5), excluding the making of a UK Appointment) and, in connection therewith (including, subject to the terms hereof, voluntary dispositions of Notes Priority Collateral by the respective Credit Parties with the consent of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent) make determinations regarding the release, disposition, or restrictions with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral without any consultation with or the consent of the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party; provided, however, that the Lien securing the ABL Obligations shall remain on the Proceeds (other than those applied to the Notes Obligations) of such Collateral released or disposed of subject to the Lien Priority and to the provisions of this Agreement. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral, the ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent may enforce the provisions of the Notes Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as it may determine in the exercise of its sole discretion. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent, receiver, interim receiver or other insolvency official appointed by it to sell or otherwise dispose of the Notes Priority Collateral upon foreclosure or other enforcement, to incur expenses in connection with such sale or disposition, and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured creditor under the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA, Debtor Relief Laws and other applicable laws of any applicable jurisdiction. The ABL Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any of the ABL Collateral Documents or any other ABL Document (other than this Agreement) shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Notes Collateral Agents and the Notes Claimholders with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral as set forth in this Agreement and the Notes Documents, and the ABL Agent, for itself and on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that it will not, except as not prohibited herein, take any action that would hinder or delay any exercise of remedies under the Notes Documents or that is otherwise prohibited hereunder, including any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of the Notes Priority Collateral, whether by foreclosure or otherwise.
(b) No Other Restrictions. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, each Notes Claimholder and each ABL Secured Party shall have any and all rights and remedies it may have as a creditor under applicable law, including the right to Exercise any Secured Creditor Remedies; provided, however, that the Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to the Collateral shall be subject to the Lien Priority and to the provisions of this Agreement. The ABL Agent may enforce the provisions of the ABL Documents, the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent may enforce the provisions of the Notes Documents and each may Exercise Any Secured Creditor Remedies, all in such order and in such manner as each may determine in the exercise of its sole discretion, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and provisions of applicable law; provided, however, that each of the ABL Agent and the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent agrees to provide to the other (x) an Enforcement Notice prior to the commencement of an Exercise of Any Secured Creditor Remedies and (y) copies of any notices that it is required under applicable law to deliver to any Credit Party; provided further, however, that the ABL Agent’s failure to provide the Enforcement Notice (other than in connection with Section 3.6) or any such copies to any Notes Collateral Agent shall not impair any of the ABL Agent’s rights hereunder or under any of the ABL Documents and the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent’s failure to provide the Enforcement Notice or any such copies to the ABL Agent shall not impair any of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent’s rights hereunder or under any of the Notes Documents. Each Notes Collateral Agent, each Notes Claimholder, the ABL Agent and each ABL Secured Party agrees that it will not institute any suit or other proceeding or assert in any suit, Insolvency Proceeding or other proceeding any claim, in the case of any Notes Collateral Agent and each Notes Claimholder, against either the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party, and in the case of the ABL Agent and each other ABL Secured Party, against any Notes Collateral Agent or any other Notes Claimholder, seeking damages from or other relief by way of specific performance, instructions or otherwise, with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by such Person with respect to the
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Collateral which is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, and none of such Parties shall be liable for any such action taken or omitted to be taken. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to any Collateral shall be made by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent and, absent the written consent of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, no such Notes Claimholder shall have the right to Exercise any Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to any Collateral.
(c) Unsecured Creditor Rights. Nothing contained herein shall impair the ABL Agent’s or any ABL Secured Party’s rights (i) to exercise any remedies against any of the Credit Parties or the Collateral (other than any remedies against any Notes Priority Collateral) pursuant to the ABL Documents; (ii) to accelerate any of the ABL Obligations; (iii) to make demand upon any Credit Party or any other Person liable on the ABL Obligations; (iv) to institute a lawsuit to collect its debt, including the filing, or participation in a filing, of any involuntary bankruptcy petition in respect to any Credit Party; (v) to exercise any of its rights or remedies with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral as and when permitted by Section 2.3(b), (vi) to file a claim or statement of interest with respect to the ABL Obligations; (vii) to take any action (not adverse to the priority and perfection status of, and validity and value of, the Liens of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, or the rights of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent to exercise remedies in respect thereof) in order to create, perfect, preserve or protect its Lien on the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent subject to the other terms of this Agreement; (viii) to file any necessary responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding or other pleading made by any Person objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance of the claims of the ABL Secured Parties, including, without limitation, any claims secured by the Collateral, if any, in each case not otherwise in contravention of the terms of this Agreement; (ix) to exercise any rights or remedies available to unsecured creditors or file any pleadings, objections, motions or agreements which assert rights or interests available to unsecured creditors of the Credit Parties arising under the ABL Documents, any Insolvency Proceeding or applicable non-bankruptcy law, in each case, not otherwise prohibited by, and not in contravention of, the terms of this Agreement; and (x) to vote on any plan of reorganization, arrangement or compromise or any proposal, file any proof of claim, make other filings and make any arguments and motions in any Insolvency Proceeding that are, in each case, not otherwise prohibited by the terms of this Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall impair Controlling Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder’s rights (i) to exercise any remedies against any of the Credit Parties or the Collateral (other than any remedies against any ABL Priority Collateral) pursuant to the Notes Documents; (ii) to accelerate any of the Notes Obligations; (iii) to make demand upon any Credit Party or any other Person liable on the Notes Obligations; (iv) to institute a lawsuit to collect its debt; (v) to exercise any of its rights or remedies with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral as and when permitted by Section 2.3(a), (vi) to file a claim or statement of interest with respect to the Notes Obligations; (vii) to take any action (not adverse to the priority and perfection status of, and validity and value of, the Liens of the ABL Agent, or the rights of the ABL Agent to exercise remedies in respect thereof) in order to create, perfect, preserve or protect (but not enforce) its Lien on the Collateral subject to the other terms of this Agreement; (viii) to file any necessary responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any motion, claim, adversary proceeding or other pleading made by any Person objecting to or otherwise seeking the disallowance of the claims of the Notes Claimholders, including, without limitation, any claims secured by the Collateral, if any, in each case not otherwise in contravention of the terms of this Agreement; (ix) to exercise any rights or remedies available to unsecured creditors or file any pleadings, objections, motions or agreements which assert rights or interests available to unsecured creditors of the Credit Parties arising under the Notes Documents, any Insolvency Proceeding or applicable non-bankruptcy law, in each case, not otherwise prohibited by, and not in contravention of, the terms of this Agreement; and (x) to vote on any proposal or plan of reorganization, arrangement or compromise or any proposal, file any claim or proof of claim, make other filings and make any arguments and motions in any Insolvency Proceeding that are, in each case, not otherwise prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.
(d) Release of Liens.
(1) In the event of (A) any private or public sale of all or any portion of the ABL Priority Collateral in connection with any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies by the ABL Agent (other than in connection with a refinancing as described in Section 5.2(c)) or by any of the Credit Parties with the consent of the ABL Agent after the occurrence and during the continuance of an ABL Default, or (B) any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of the ABL Priority Collateral (other than in connection with a refinancing as described in Section 5.2(c)), so long as such sale, transfer or other disposition is then permitted by the ABL Documents and the Notes Documents (or is consented to by the ABL Agent and the
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Controlling Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the applicable Credit Documents), irrespective of whether an Event of Default has occurred (provided if an ABL Default has occurred and is continuing, clause (A) above shall control), in each case, so long as the proceeds of any such sale, transfer or other disposition are applied in accordance with Section 4.1, each Notes Collateral Agent agrees, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders that, so long as such Notes Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the applicable Notes Claimholders, shall retain a Lien on the proceeds of such sale, transfer or other disposition (to the extent that such proceeds are not applied to the ABL Obligations as provided in Section 4.1 hereof), such sale, transfer or other disposition will be free and clear of the Liens on such ABL Priority Collateral (but not the proceeds thereof) securing the Notes Obligations, and each Notes Collateral Agent and the Notes Claimholders’ Liens with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral (but not the proceeds thereof) so sold, transferred, or disposed shall terminate and be, to the extent possible under applicable law, automatically released without further action concurrently with, and to the same extent as, the release of the ABL Secured Parties’ Liens on such ABL Priority Collateral. In furtherance of, and subject to, the foregoing, each Notes Collateral Agent agrees that it will promptly execute any and all Lien releases or other documents consistent with this paragraph and reasonably requested by the ABL Agent in connection therewith. Each Notes Collateral Agent hereby appoints the ABL Agent and any officer or duly authorized person of the ABL Agent, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power of attorney in the place and stead of such Notes Collateral Agent and in the name of such Notes Collateral Agent or in the ABL Agent’s own name, from time to time, in the ABL Agent’s sole discretion, for the purposes of carrying out the terms of this paragraph, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments as may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this paragraph, including any financing statements, endorsements, assignments, releases or other documents or instruments of transfer (which appointment, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable).
(2) In the event of (A) any private or public sale of all or any portion of the Notes Priority Collateral in connection with any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (other than in connection with a refinancing as described in Section 5.2(c)) or by any of the Credit Parties with the consent of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (acting as directed by the requisite Notes Claimholders pursuant to the terms of the applicable Note Documents) after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Notes Default, or (B) any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of the Notes Priority Collateral (other than in connection with a refinancing as described in Section 5.2(c)), so long as such sale, transfer or other disposition is then permitted by the Notes Documents and the ABL Documents (or is consented to by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (acting as directed by the requisite Notes Claimholders pursuant to the terms of the applicable Note Documents) or requisite Notes Claimholders, as applicable, and the ABL Agent) irrespective of whether an Event of Default has occurred (provided if a Notes Default has occurred and is continuing, clause (A) above shall control), in each case, so long as the proceeds of any such sale, transfer or other disposition are applied in accordance with Section 4.1 the ABL Agent agrees, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties that, so long as the ABL Agent, for the benefit of the ABL Secured Parties, shall retain a Lien on the proceeds of such sale, transfer or other disposition (to the extent that such proceeds are not applied to the Notes Obligations as provided in Section 4.1 hereof), such sale, transfer or disposition will be free and clear of the Liens on such Notes Priority Collateral (but not the proceeds thereof) securing the ABL Obligations and the ABL Agent’s and the ABL Secured Parties’ Liens with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral (but not the proceeds thereof) so sold, transferred, or disposed shall terminate and be, to the extent possible under applicable law, automatically released without further action concurrently with, and to the same extent as, the release of the Notes Claimholders’ Liens on such Notes Priority Collateral. In furtherance of, and subject to, the foregoing, the ABL Agent agrees that it will promptly execute any and all Lien releases or other documents consistent with this paragraph and reasonably requested by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (acting as directed by the requisite Notes Claimholders pursuant to the terms of the applicable Note Documents) in connection therewith. The ABL Agent hereby appoints the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent and any officer or duly authorized person of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power of attorney in the place and stead of the ABL Agent and in the name of the ABL Agent or in the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent’s own name, from time to time, in the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent’s sole discretion (acting as directed by the requisite Notes Claimholders pursuant to the terms of the applicable Note Documents), for the purposes of carrying out the terms of this paragraph, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments as may be necessary or
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desirable to accomplish the purposes of this paragraph, including any financing statements, endorsements, assignments, releases or other documents or instruments of transfer (which appointment, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable).
Section 2.5 No New Liens; SimilarAgreements.
(a) Until the date upon which the Discharge of ABL Obligations shall have occurred, no Notes Claimholder shall acquire or hold any Lien on any assets securing any Notes Obligation which assets are not also subject to the Lien of the ABL Agent under the ABL Documents (unless the Credit Parties shall have offered a Lien on such assets to secure the ABL Obligations and the ABL Agent has declined such Lien). If any Notes Claimholder shall acquire or hold any Lien on any assets over which assets the ABL Agent does not hold a Lien on the date hereof of any Credit Party securing any Notes Obligation which assets are not also subject to the Lien of the ABL Agent under the ABL Documents, then each Notes Collateral Agent (or the relevant Notes Claimholder) shall, without the need for any further consent of any other Notes Claimholder, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other Notes Document, be deemed to also hold and have held such Lien as agent or bailee for the benefit of the ABL Agent as security for the ABL Obligations (subject to the Lien Priority and other terms hereof) and shall promptly notify the ABL Agent in writing of the existence of such Lien upon becoming aware thereof.
(b) Until the date upon which the Discharge of Notes Obligations shall have occurred, no ABL Secured Party shall acquire or hold any Lien on any assets securing any ABL Obligation which assets are not also subject to the Lien of each Notes Collateral Agent under the Notes Documents (unless the Credit Parties shall have offered a Lien on such assets to secure the Noteholder Claims and the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (acting as directed by the requisite Notes Claimholders pursuant to the terms of the applicable Note Documents) has declined such Lien). If any ABL Secured Party shall acquire or hold any Lien on any assets of any Credit Party securing any ABL Obligation which assets are not also subject to the Lien of each Notes Collateral Agent under the Notes Documents, then the ABL Agent (or the relevant ABL Secured Party) shall, without the need for any further consent of any other ABL Secured Party or any Credit Party, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other ABL Document be deemed to also hold and have held such Lien as agent or bailee for the benefit of each Notes Collateral Agent as security for the Notes Obligations (subject to the Lien Priority and other terms hereof) and shall promptly notify each Notes Collateral Agent in writing of the existence of such Lien upon becoming aware thereof.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the foregoing shall not apply to any cash or cash equivalents pledged to secure ABL Obligations consisting of reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit or otherwise held by the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party pursuant to express provisions of the ABL Credit Agreement and any such cash and cash equivalents shall be applied as specified in the ABL Credit Agreement and will not constitute Collateral hereunder.
Section 2.6 Waiver of Marshalling.
(a) Until the Discharge of ABL Obligations, each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees not to assert and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or otherwise claim the benefit of, any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may otherwise be available under applicable law with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral or any other similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law.
(b) Until the Discharge of Notes Obligations, the ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees not to assert and hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to demand, request, plead or otherwise assert or otherwise claim the benefit of, any marshalling, appraisal, valuation or other similar right that may otherwise be available under applicable law with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral or any other similar rights a junior secured creditor may have under applicable law.
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ARTICLE 3
ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES
Section 3.1 Certain Actions Permitted. Each Notes Collateral Agent and the ABL Agent may make such demands or file such claims in respect of the Notes Obligations or the ABL Obligations, as applicable, as are necessary to prevent the waiver or bar of such claims under applicable statutes of limitations or other statutes, court orders, or rules of procedure at any time (including in any Insolvency Proceeding). Subject to the provisions of Section 4.1, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the receipt by any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder of the required payments of interest, principal and other amounts owed in respect of the Notes Obligations so long as such receipt is not the direct or indirect result of the exercise by any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder of rights or remedies as a secured creditor (including set-off) with respect to ABL Priority Collateral or enforcement in contravention of this Agreement of any Lien held by any of them. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.1, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the receipt by the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party of the required payments of interest, principal and other amounts owed in respect of the ABL Obligations so long as such receipt is not the direct or indirect result of the exercise by the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party of rights or remedies as a secured creditor (including set-off) with respect to Notes Priority Collateral or enforcement in contravention of this Agreement of any Lien held by any of them. None of the Notes Collateral Agents, Notes Claimholders, ABL Agent or ABL Secured Parties shall take any other action in connection with the Notes Obligations or the ABL Obligations, as applicable, in contravention of the terms of this Agreement (including if for any reason such party is deemed, or is otherwise purporting to be acting in the capacity as, an unsecured or undersecured creditor with respect to such Notes Obligations or ABL Obligations, as applicable).
Section 3.2 Agent for Perfection. The ABL Agent, for and on behalf of itself and each ABL Secured Party, and each Notes Collateral Agent, for and on behalf of itself and each applicable Notes Claimholder, as applicable, each agree to hold all Collateral in their respective possession, custody, or control (including as defined in Sections 9-104, 9-105, 9-106, 9-107 and 8-106 of the UCC) (or in the possession, custody, or control of agents or bailees for either) as gratuitous bailee for the other solely for the purpose of perfecting the security interest granted to each in such Collateral, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 3.2 and the priorities otherwise set forth in this Agreement. Solely with respect to any Control Collateral under the control (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC, the PPSA or other applicable law) of the ABL Agent or any Notes Collateral Agent, the ABL Agent and each Notes Collateral Agent, respectively, agrees to also hold control over such Control Collateral as gratuitous agent for and on behalf of the Notes Claimholders and the ABL Secured Parties, respectively, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 3.2 and the priorities otherwise set forth in this Agreement. None of the ABL Agent, the ABL Secured Parties, Notes Collateral Agents, or the Notes Claimholders, as applicable, shall have any obligation whatsoever to the others to assure that the Collateral is genuine or owned by any Credit Party, or any other Person or to preserve rights or benefits of any Person. The duties or responsibilities of the ABL Agent and the Notes Collateral Agents under this Section 3.2 are and shall be limited solely to holding or maintaining control of the Control Collateral as gratuitous bailee (in each case, to the extent required under the ABL Documents and the Notes Documents, as applicable) for the other Party for purposes of perfecting the Lien held by the applicable Notes Collateral Agent or the ABL Agent, as applicable. The ABL Agent is not and shall not be deemed to be a fiduciary of any kind for the Notes Claimholders or any other Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly provided herein, the ABL Secured Parties shall not be obligated to see to the application of any Proceeds of the Notes Priority Collateral deposited into any Deposit Account or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof. The Notes Collateral Agents are not and shall not be deemed to be a fiduciary of any kind for the ABL Secured Parties, or any other Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly provided herein, the Notes Claimholders shall not be obligated to see to the application of any Proceeds of the ABL Priority Collateral deposited into any Deposit Account or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof. In addition, (i) each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, hereby agrees and acknowledges that other than with respect to ABL Priority Collateral that may be perfected through the filing of a UCC or PPSA financing statement or similar filing or registration, the ABL Agent’s Liens may be perfected on certain items of ABL Priority Collateral with respect to which a Notes Collateral Agent’s Liens would not be perfected but for the provisions of this Section 3.2, and such Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, hereby further agrees that the foregoing described in this sentence shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement and (ii) the ABL Agent, on behalf of the applicable ABL Secured Parties, hereby agrees and acknowledges that other than with respect to Notes Priority Collateral that may be perfected through the filing of a UCC or PPSA financing statement or similar filing or registration, the Notes Collateral Agent’s Liens may be perfected on certain items of Notes Priority Collateral
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with respect to which the ABL Agent’s Liens would not be perfected but for the provisions of this Section 3.2, and the ABL Agent, on behalf of the applicable ABL Secured Parties, hereby further agrees that the foregoing described in this sentence shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement. Each Agent, for itself and on behalf of each applicable Secured Party represented thereby, hereby waives and releases the other Agent from all claims and liabilities arising pursuant to such Agent’s role under this Section 3.2 as bailee with respect to the applicable Control Collateral.
Section 3.3 Sharing of Information and Access. In the event that the ABL Agent shall, in the exercise of its rights under the ABL Collateral Documents or otherwise, receive possession or control of any books and records of any Credit Party which contain information identifying or pertaining to the Notes Priority Collateral, the ABL Agent shall, upon request from the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent and as promptly as practicable thereafter, either make available to the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent such books and records for inspection and duplication or provide to the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent copies thereof. In the event that any Notes Collateral Agent shall, in the exercise of its rights under any Notes Collateral Documents or otherwise, receive possession or control of any books and records of any Credit Party which contain information identifying or pertaining to any of the ABL Priority Collateral, such Notes Collateral Agent shall, upon request from the ABL Agent and as promptly as practicable thereafter, either make available to the ABL Agent such books and records for inspection and duplication or provide the ABL Agent copies thereof.
Section 3.4 Insurance. Proceeds of Collateral include insurance proceeds and, therefore, the Lien Priority shall govern the ultimate disposition of casualty insurance proceeds. The ABL Agent and each Notes Collateral Agent shall (as, and to the extent required by the applicable Credit Documents) each be named as additional insured or loss payee, as applicable, with respect to all insurance policies relating to the Collateral as set forth in the applicable Notes Document or the ABL Credit Agreement, as applicable. The ABL Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right, as against each Notes Collateral Agent, to adjust settlement of insurance claims in the event of any covered loss, theft or destruction of ABL Priority Collateral. The Controlling Notes Collateral Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right, as against the ABL Agent, to adjust settlement of insurance claims in the event of any covered loss, theft or destruction of Notes Priority Collateral. If any insurance claim includes both ABL Priority Collateral and Notes Priority Collateral or relates to business interruption insurance, the insurer will not settle such claim separately with respect to ABL Priority Collateral and Notes Priority Collateral, and if the Parties are unable after negotiating in good faith to agree on the settlement for such claim, either Party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to make a determination as to the settlement of such claim, and the court’s determination shall be binding upon the Parties; provided that proceeds of such claim shall be applied in the same manner (and required amounts) set forth in Section 4.1(f) for sales and dispositions of Collateral; provided, further that 50% of the proceeds of any claim relating to business interruption insurance shall constitute ABL Priority Collateral and the remaining 50% shall constitute Notes Priority Collateral. All proceeds of such insurance shall be remitted to the ABL Agent or the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, subject, in each case, to the terms of their respective Credit Documents, and each Notes Collateral Agent and ABL Agent shall cooperate (if necessary) in a reasonable manner in effecting the payment of insurance proceeds in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) to the extent any Proceeds of insurance are received for any liability or indemnification as compensation for a loss with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, such Proceeds shall first be applied to repay the ABL Obligations (to the extent required pursuant to the ABL Documents) and then be applied (to the extent required by the Notes Documents) to the Notes Obligations, and (B) to the extent any Proceeds of insurance are received for any liability or indemnification as compensation for a loss with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral, such Proceeds shall first be applied to repay the Notes Obligations (to the extent required pursuant to the Notes Documents) and then be applied (to the extent required by the ABL Documents) to the ABL Obligations.
Section 3.5 No Additional Rights For the Credit Parties Hereunder. Except as provided in Section 3.6, if any ABL Secured Party or Notes Claimholder shall enforce its rights or remedies in violation of the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Parties shall not be entitled to use such violation as a defense to any action by any ABL Secured Party or Notes Claimholder, nor to assert such violation as a counterclaim or basis for set off or recoupment against any ABL Secured Party or Notes Claimholder.
Section 3.6 Inspection and Access Rights. (a) Without limiting any rights the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party may otherwise have under applicable law or by agreement, in the event of any liquidation of the ABL Priority Collateral (or any other Exercise of Any Secured Creditor Remedies by the ABL Agent) and whether or not any Notes Collateral Agent or any other Notes Claimholder has commenced and is continuing to
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Exercise Any Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral or otherwise, the ABL Agent or any other Person (including any ABL Credit Party) acting with the consent, or on behalf, of the ABL Agent, shall have the right (a) during the Use Period during normal business hours to access ABL Priority Collateral that (i) is stored or located in or on, (ii) has become an accession with respect to (within the meaning of Section 9-335 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA or other applicable law), or (iii) has been commingled with (within the meaning of Section 9-336 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA or other applicable law) Notes Priority Collateral, and (b) during the Use Period, shall have the irrevocable right to use the Notes Priority Collateral (including, without limitation, Equipment, Fixtures, Intellectual Property (if any), General Intangibles and Real Property) on a world-wide, rent-free, royalty-free basis, each of the foregoing solely for the limited purposes of assembling, inspecting, copying or downloading information stored on, taking actions to perfect its Lien on, completing a production run of Inventory involving, taking possession of, moving, preparing and advertising for sale, selling (by public auction, private sale or a “store closing”, “going out of business” or similar sale, whether in bulk, in lots or to customers in the ordinary course of business or otherwise and which sale may include augmented Inventory), storing or otherwise dealing with the ABL Priority Collateral, in each case without notice to, the involvement of or interference by any Notes Claimholder or liability to any Notes Claimholder; provided, however, that the expiration of the Use Period shall be without prejudice to the sale or other disposition of the ABL Priority Collateral in accordance with this Agreement and applicable law. In the event that any ABL Secured Party has commenced and is continuing the Exercise of Any Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to any ABL Priority Collateral or any other sale or liquidation of the ABL Priority Collateral has been commenced by an ABL Credit Party (with the consent of the ABL Agent), the Notes Collateral Agents may not sell, assign or otherwise transfer Notes Priority Collateral prior to the expiration of the Use Period, unless the purchaser, assignee or transferee thereof agrees in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Section 3.6.
(b) During the period of actual occupation, use and/or control by the ABL Agent or other ABL Secured Parties (or, in each case, their respective employees, agents, advisers and representatives) of any Notes Priority Collateral, the ABL Secured Parties and the ABL Agent shall be obligated to repair at their expense any physical damage (but not any diminution in value) to such Notes Priority Collateral resulting from such occupancy, use or control, and to leave such Notes Priority Collateral in substantially the same condition as it was at the commencement of such occupancy, use or control, ordinary wear and tear excepted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the ABL Agent or other ABL Secured Parties have any liability to the Notes Claimholders and/or to any Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 3.6 as a result of any condition (including any environmental condition, claim or liability) on or with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral existing prior to the date of the exercise by the ABL Secured Parties of their rights under Section 3.6 or existing as a result of anything other than the occupancy and use or control by the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties shall have no duty or liability to maintain the Notes Priority Collateral in a condition or manner better than that in which it was maintained prior to the use thereof by the ABL Secured Parties (or the ABL Agent or the Credit Parties with the consent of the ABL Agent, as the case may be), or for any diminution in the value of the Notes Priority Collateral that results from ordinary wear and tear resulting from the use of the Notes Priority Collateral by the ABL Secured Parties in the manner and for the time periods specified under this Section 3.6. Without limiting the rights granted in this Section 3.6, the ABL Secured Parties and the ABL Agent shall reasonably cooperate with the Notes Claimholders and/or the Notes Collateral Agents in connection with any efforts made by the Notes Claimholders and/or the Notes Collateral Agents to sell the Notes Priority Collateral.
(c) Other than as set forth in Section 3.6(d), the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties shall not be obligated to pay any amounts to the Notes Collateral Agents or the Notes Claimholders (or any person claiming by, through or under the Notes Claimholders, including any purchaser of the Notes Priority Collateral) or to the ABL Credit Parties, for or in respect of the use by the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties of the Notes Priority Collateral.
(d) The ABL Agent shall (i) use the Notes Priority Collateral in accordance with applicable law; (ii) indemnify, hold harmless, and reimburse the Notes Claimholders for any injury or damage to Persons or property (ordinary wear-and-tear excepted) caused directly by the acts or omissions of Persons under the ABL Agent’s control and direction; and (iii) indemnify, hold harmless, and reimburse the Notes Claimholders from any loss, liability, claim, damage (other than diminution in value thereof as a result of the removal of the ABL Priority Collateral) or expense (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel) arising out of any claim asserted by any third party as a direct result of any acts or omissions of the ABL Secured Parties or any of
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their agents or representatives in connection with their occupation or use of any Notes Priority Collateral; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the ABL Secured Parties will not be liable for any diminution in the value of the Notes Priority Collateral caused by the use of the Notes Priority Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or the absence or removal of the ABL Priority Collateral therefrom.
(e) Each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that it will not take any action that would hinder or obstruct the ABL Agent and the other ABL Secured Parties from exercising the rights described in Section 3.6(a) hereof.
(f) Subject to the terms hereof, the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent may advertise and conduct public auctions or private sales of the Notes Priority Collateral without notice (except as required by applicable law or this Agreement) to any ABL Secured Party, the involvement of or interference by any ABL Secured Party or liability to any ABL Secured Party as long as, in the case of an actual sale, the respective purchaser assumes and agrees in writing to the obligations of the Notes Collateral Agents and the Notes Claimholders under this Section 3.6.
(g) In furtherance of the foregoing in this Section 3.6, each Notes Collateral Agent, in its capacity as a secured party (or as a purchaser, assignee or transferee, as applicable), and to the extent of its interest therein, hereby grants to the ABL Agent a nonexclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, license or sublicense any and all Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Credit Parties (except to the extent such grant is prohibited by any rule of law, statute or regulation), included as part of the Notes Priority Collateral (and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof) as is or may be necessary, advisable or helpful in the ABL Agent’s reasonable judgment for the ABL Agent to process, ship, produce, store, supply, lease, complete, sell, liquidate or otherwise deal with the ABL Priority Collateral, or to collect or otherwise realize upon any Accounts (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) or Credit Card Receivable comprising ABL Priority Collateral; provided that (i) any such license shall terminate upon the sale of all ABL Priority Collateral and shall not extend or transfer to the purchaser of any ABL Priority Collateral, (ii) the ABL Agent’s use of such Intellectual Property shall be lawful, and (iii) any such license is granted on an “AS IS” basis, without any representation or warranty whatsoever. Each Notes Collateral Agent (i) acknowledges and consents to the grant to the ABL Agent by the Credit Parties of the license referred to in Section 5.03 of the U.S. Security Agreement (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) or such comparable provision in any of the other Security Agreements (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and (ii) agrees that its Liens in the Notes Priority Collateral shall be subject in all respects to such license. Furthermore, each Notes Collateral Agent agrees that, in connection with any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies by any Notes Collateral Agent in respect of Notes Priority Collateral, (x) any notice required to be given by any Notes Collateral Agent in connection with such Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies shall contain an acknowledgement of the existence of such license and (y) each Notes Collateral Agent shall provide written notice to any purchaser, assignee or transferee pursuant to an Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies that the applicable assets are subject to such license.
(h) Without regard to the expiration of the Use Period, and without limiting the extent of the ABL Priority Collateral, the ABL Agent shall have the right to utilize all books and records which the ABL Agent has copied or otherwise duplicated until the completion of the sale, disposition, collection, or other transfer by, or with the consent of, the ABL Agent (including any sale, disposition or other transfer by any Credit Party, any agent, receiver, interim receiver or receiver-manager or other insolvency official of any Credit Party or any agent of the ABL Agent (including any receiver, receiver manager, interim receiver or other insolvency official)) of all ABL Priority Collateral.
(i) It is hereby agreed and acknowledge that nothing in this Section 3.6 shall be deemed or interpreted to alter the fact that that all Intellectual Property Collateral shall be ABL Priority Collateral prior to the Collateral Designation Date (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement).
Section 3.7 Tracing of and Priorities in Proceeds. The ABL Agent, for itself and on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties, and each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Notes Claimholders, further agree that prior to an issuance of any notice of Exercise of Any Secured Creditor Remedies by such Secured Party (unless an Insolvency Proceeding then exists with respect to any Credit Party), any proceeds of Collateral, whether or
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not deposited under control agreements, which are used by any Credit Party to acquire other property which is Collateral shall not (solely as between the Agents and the other Secured Parties) be treated as Proceeds of Collateral for purposes of determining the relative priorities in the Collateral which was so acquired. In addition, unless and until the Discharge of the ABL Obligations occurs, each Notes Collateral Agent for itself and on behalf of each applicable Notes Claimholder, consents to the application, prior to the delivery of a Notes Cash Proceeds Notice to the ABL Agent, of cash or other proceeds of Collateral deposited in deposit accounts (other than any cash (consisting of Notes Priority Collateral) held in Notes Priority Accounts) to the repayment of the ABL Obligations pursuant to the ABL Documents; provided, further, that, for the avoidance of doubt, after the delivery of a Notes Cash Proceeds Notice to the ABL Agent, the ABL Secured Parties shall continue to be able to apply cash or other proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral deposited under control agreements (other than any cash (consisting of Notes Priority Collateral) held in Notes Priority Accounts) to the repayment of the ABL Obligations pursuant to the ABL Documents.
Section 3.8 Purchase Option; Collateral Designation Option.
(a) Purchase Option.
(1) Upon the occurrence of the first to occur of (i) the Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies by the ABL Agent in respect of all or a material portion of the Collateral, (ii) the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding against any Notes Credit Party, (iii) any ABL Default, (iv) any action is taken by the ABL Secured Parties to accelerate the maturity of any indebtedness or other obligations owing under the ABL Documents or to terminate or suspend commitments under the ABL Documents, or (v) the failure of the ABL Secured Parties to honor a valid borrowing request from the ABL Borrowers that satisfies the conditions for borrowing under the ABL Documents for three (3) consecutive Business Days (each such event, a “Controlling Notes Purchase Option TriggeringEvent”), holders of Notes Obligations represented by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (such holders referred to herein as the “Controlling Noteholders”), shall have the option, but not the obligation, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the ABL Obligations owing to the ABL Secured Parties, from the ABL Secured Parties, and assume all, but not less than all, of the then existing funding and other commitments under the ABL Documents. In order to exercise such option, the Controlling Noteholders (including by acting through the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, who shall give such notice only at the direction of the Controlling Noteholders) shall give written notice (the “ControllingNotes Purchase Notice”) to ABL Agent no later than the tenth (10^th^) day (or such later date as may be consented to by the ABL Agent, in its sole discretion) after the commencement of the applicable Controlling Notes Purchase Option Triggering Event. A Controlling Notes Purchase Notice, once delivered, shall be irrevocable and shall constitute an absolute, unconditional and irrevocable commitment by the Controlling Noteholders, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the ABL Obligations, and assume all, but not less than all, of the then existing funding and other commitments under the ABL Documents by the participating Notes Claimholders.
(2) On the date specified in the Controlling Notes Purchase Notice (which shall not be less than five (5) days after receipt by ABL Agent of the Controlling Notes Purchase Notice, nor more than ten (10) days after receipt by ABL Agent of the Controlling Notes Purchase Notice (or such earlier or later date as may be consented to by the ABL Agent, in its discretion)), ABL Secured Parties shall sell to the participating Notes Claimholders, and such participating Notes Claimholders shall purchase from the ABL Secured Parties, all, but not less than all, of the ABL Obligations, and the ABL Secured Parties shall assign to the participating Notes Claimholders, and the participating Notes Claimholders shall assume from the ABL Secured Parties, all, but not less than all, of the then existing funding and other commitments of the ABL Secured Parties under the ABL Documents.
(3) Such purchase and sale shall be made by execution and delivery by the ABL Secured Parties and the participating Notes Claimholders of an Assignment and Acceptance in the form attached to the ABL Credit Agreement. On the date of such purchase and sale, the participating Notes Claimholders shall (i) pay in immediately available funds (in U.S. Dollars) to the ABL Agent, for the benefit of ABL Secured Parties, as the purchase price therefor the full amount of all the ABL Obligations then outstanding and unpaid (including any amounts determined by the ABL Agent to be reasonably necessary to protect against currency rate fluctuations for loans denominated in a currency other than U.S. Dollars), (ii) furnish cash collateral (in U.S. Dollars) to the ABL Agent in such amounts as the ABL Agent determines is
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reasonably necessary to secure the ABL Agent and the other ABL Secured Parties in connection with (A) any outstanding letters of Credit (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) (which shall not exceed an amount equal to 105% of the aggregate undrawn amount of such letters of Credit), (B) to the extent not terminated and paid in cash, ABL Obligations with respect to ABL Cash Management Obligations and ABL Hedging Agreements, and (C) any indemnity obligations for claims that have been asserted at the time of purchase, and (iii) agree to reimburse the ABL Agent and the other ABL Secured Parties for all expenses theretofore or thereafter incurred by any of them and not included in the ABL Obligations at the time of purchase, but only to the extent such would have been due and payable in accordance with the ABL Documents (including, without limitation, the reimbursement of reasonable legal expenses, commercial finance examination expenses, and appraisal fees). Interest shall be calculated to but excluding the business day on which such purchase and sale shall occur if the amounts so paid by the participating Notes Claimholders to the bank account designated by the ABL Agent are received in such bank account prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, and interest shall be calculated to and including such business day if the amounts so paid by participating Notes Claimholders to the bank account designated by the ABL Agent are received in such bank account later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time.
(4) Such purchase and sale shall be expressly made without representation or warranty of any kind by the ABL Secured Parties as to the ABL Obligations or otherwise and without recourse to the ABL Secured Parties, except for several (and not joint) representations and warranties as to the following: (x) the notional amount of the ABL Obligations being purchased (including as to the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on such ABL Obligations, fees and expenses thereof) from such ABL Secured Party, (y) that such ABL Secured Party owns the ABL Obligations being sold free and clear of any Liens granted by such ABL Secured Party and (z) such ABL Secured Party has the full right and power to assign such ABL Obligations and such assignment has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by such ABL Secured Party.
(5) For the avoidance of doubt, such purchase and sale contemplated by this clause (a) shall not reduce or limit the benefits of the ABL Documents in favor of any ABL Secured Parties that expressly survive the assignment of all or any portion of the ABL Obligations by such ABL Secured Party or the termination of the ABL Documents, including, without limitation, any indemnity obligations of the Credit Parties thereunder.
(6) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any ABL Document, the Credit Parties hereby consent to any sale of the ABL Obligations and assignment of the then existing funding and other commitments under the ABL Documents pursuant to the terms of this clause (a).
(7) In the event that any one or more of the Notes Claimholders exercises and consummates the purchase option set forth in this Section 3.8(a), (i) the ABL Agent and the Issuing Banks (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) shall have the right, but not the obligation, to immediately resign under the ABL Credit Agreement, and (ii) the participating Notes Claimholders shall have the right, but not the obligation, to require the ABL Agent and the Issuing Banks to immediately resign under the ABL Credit Agreement.
(b) Collateral Designation Option.
(1) At any time there exists and is continuing an ABL Default (but in all cases prior to expiration of the Limited IP Standstill Period) (a “Collateral Designation Option Period”), the Controlling Noteholders shall have the option (the “Collateral Designation Option”), but not the obligation, to cause the occurrence of a Collateral Designation Date. In order to exercise such option, the Controlling Noteholders (including by acting through the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, who shall give such notice only at the direction of the Controlling Noteholders) shall give written notice (a “Collateral Designation Exercise Notice”) to ABL Agent during the Collateral Designation Option Period of their intention to effect a Collateral Designation pursuant to clause (a) of the definition thereof contained in the ABL Credit Agreement, subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 3.8(b). Promptly following the existence of any ABL Default, the ABL Agent shall provide notice thereof to each Notes Collateral Agent (provided that the failure of the ABL Agent to give such notice shall not result in any liability
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to the ABL Agent or affect the enforceability of any provision of this Agreement). In the event that the Controlling Noteholders shall have delivered a Collateral Designation Exercise Notice prior to the expiration of the Collateral Designation Option Period as set forth above, the ABL Agent agrees that the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties shall not exercise any foreclosure action with respect to any Specified Collateral until the expiration or earlier termination of the Collateral Designation Option as provided below.
(2) The occurrence of a Collateral Designation Date pursuant to the exercise of the Collateral Designation Option in accordance with Section 3.8(b)(1) shall be subject to satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
(i) On the proposed Collateral Designation Date (which shall be specified in the Collateral Designation Exercise Notice and which shall not be more than forty (40) days after receipt by ABL Agent of the Collateral Designation Exercise Notice (or such later date as may be consented to by the ABL Agent, in its sole discretion)), the participating Notes Claimholders shall pay to the ABL Agent, for the benefit of ABL Secured Parties, an amount equal to 107.5% of the IP Advance then outstanding (provided that such amount shall in no event exceed the aggregate outstanding amount of all loans and letters of credit issued under the ABL Credit Agreement at such time). Such payment shall be made in U.S. Dollars in immediately available funds to such bank account of ABL Agent as ABL Agent may designate in writing to the participating Notes Claimholders and shall be received by the ABL Agent prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time on such proposed Collateral Designation Date; and
(ii) On the proposed Collateral Designation Date, the ABL Agent shall automatically update the ABL Borrowing Base (without the need for any further action or consent of any Credit Party and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein), to give pro forma effect to such Collateral Designation (including (x) the removal of all Intellectual Property Collateral from the ABL Borrowing Base, and (y) the lower advance rates under the ABL Borrowing Base applicable on and after the Collateral Designation Date as set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) (the “Pro Forma Borrowing Base Modifications”);
provided, however, that no Collateral Designation Date shall be deemed to occur pursuant to this Section 3.8(b) if either (A) the Collateral Designation Date does not occur within forty (40) days after receipt by ABL Agent of the Collateral Designation Exercise Notice (or such later date as may be consented to by the ABL Agent, in its sole discretion) or (B) after giving effect to the Pro Forma Borrowing Base Modifications, the ABL Credit Parties shall not be in compliance with the ABL Financial Covenant.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall (x) more than one Collateral Designation Exercise Notice be delivered pursuant to this Section 3.8(b) during the term of this Agreement, (y) in the event that the participating Notes Claimholders fail to satisfy the condition set forth in Section 3.8(b)(2) on the proposed Collateral Designation Date, the Collateral Designation Option shall immediately terminate and (z) the Notes Claimholders or any Notes Collateral Agent be permitted to exercise the Collateral Designation Option after the expiration of the Limited IP Standstill Period. For the avoidance of any doubt, in the event that the Controlling Noteholders shall have delivered a Collateral Designation Exercise Notice prior to the expiration of the Collateral Designation Option Period as set forth above, the Collateral Designation Option shall expire no later than forty (40) days after the delivery of such Collateral Designation Exercise Notice.
Section 3.9 Payments Over.
(a) So long as the Discharge of Notes Obligations has not occurred, Notes Priority Collateral or Proceeds thereof received by the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party in connection with the Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies or otherwise received in contravention of this Agreement (it being understood that the application of proceeds from any Deposit Account prior to the delivery of a Notes Cash Proceeds Notice pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall not be deemed in contravention of this Agreement) shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Notes Claimholders in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Controlling Notes Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the
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ABL Agent or any such other ABL Secured Parties. This authorization is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable until such time as this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.
(b) So long as the Discharge of ABL Obligations has not occurred, any ABL Priority Collateral or Proceeds thereof received by any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder in connection with the Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies (including set off) or otherwise received in contravention of this Agreement or otherwise shall be segregated and held in trust and forthwith paid over to the ABL Agent for the benefit of the ABL Secured Parties in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The ABL Agent is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for the Notes Collateral Agents or any such Notes Claimholder. This authorization is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable until such time as this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.
Section 3.10 UK Third Party Notices.
(a) Each Notes Collateral Agent agrees that, until the Discharge of ABL Obligations has occurred, it will not deliver or require a Credit Party to deliver any notice or direction to any third party (including, without limitation, any bank, insurance company or contract counterparty) or seek to enter into any direct agreement with any such third party to the extent that such third party’s involvement relates to any ABL Priority Collateral located in the United Kingdom and subject to a Lien under English law (including, without limitation, Deposit Accounts domiciled in the United Kingdom).
(b) The ABL Agent agrees that, until the Discharge of Notes Obligations has occurred, it will not deliver or require a Credit Party to deliver any notice or direction to any third party (including, without limitation, any bank, insurance company or contract counterparty) or seek to enter into any direct agreement with any such third party to the extent that such third party’s involvement relates to any Notes Priority Collateral located in the United Kingdom and subject to a Lien under English law (including, without limitation, Deposit Accounts domiciled in the United Kingdom).
Section 3.11 Collateral Agency For Foreign Collateral
(a) Appointment of Common Collateral Agent
(1) It is acknowledged that, in certain jurisdictions outside of the United States of America or Canada, applicable law prevents both the Notes Collateral Agents and the ABL Agent from obtaining separate liens on the Collateral. In such circumstances, solely for such Collateral in those certain jurisdictions (“Foreign Collateral”), the parties hereto agree that (i) the ABL Agent, who may appoint any sub-agent in its sole discretion upon written notice to the other Collateral Agents to act in such capacity, is hereby appointed as the Common Collateral Agent and sub-agent for the Collateral Agents in respect of any Foreign Collateral, (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Common Collateral Agent is permitted to hold Liens on such Foreign Collateral in trust for the Secured Parties notwithstanding the inability of any other Collateral Agent to hold similar Liens. In recognition of the foregoing, each Collateral Agent hereby irrevocably appoints the ABL Agent as the Common Collateral Agent, to act as the “collateral agent” under any Foreign Security Documents, pursuant to this Section 3.11, and each Collateral Agent hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the ABL Agent to act as the agent of such Secured Parties for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Foreign Collateral, pursuant to this Section 3.11, granted by any of the Credit Parties to secure any of the Notes Obligations or ABL Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto (including, without limitation, to enter into additional Foreign Security Documents or supplements to existing Foreign Security Documents on behalf of the Secured Parties). The Common Collateral Agent, as “collateral agent”, and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Common Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 3.11 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Foreign Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Foreign Security Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Common Collateral Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Agreement, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under this Agreement and the Foreign Security Documents as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Foreign Security Documents (or any other similar term) with
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reference to the Common 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 as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
(2) In relation to Foreign Security Documents governed by German law (the “German Transaction Security”), the Common Collateral Agent shall hold, administer and (subject to the same having become enforceable and to the terms of the Foreign Security Documents) realize any such German Transaction Security which is security transferred or assigned (Sicherungseigentum/Sicherungsabtretung) or otherwise granted under a non-accessory security right (nicht-akzessorische Sicherheit) to it in its own name as agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
(3) In relation to Foreign Security Documents governed by Swiss law (the “SwissSecurity Documents”), solely the ABL Agent shall act as Common Collateral Agent and, in such capacity, shall (i) hold and administer any non-accessory security interests (nicht-akzessorische Sicherheit) created under any Swiss Security Documents **** as fiduciary (treuhänderisch) in its own name but for the benefit of the Secured Parties and (ii) hold and administer any accessory security interests (akzessorische Sicherheit) created under any Swiss Security Documents **** as direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) in the name and on behalf of the Secured Parties. The ABL Agent in its capacity as Common Collateral Agent shall be empowered to: (i) exercise such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are specifically delegated to or conferred upon the Common Collateral Agent under the relevant Swiss Security Documents together with such powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto, (ii) take such action on its behalf as may from time to time be authorized under or in accordance with the relevant Swiss Security Documents and (iii) accept, enter into and execute, as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) any pledge or other creation of any accessory security interest granted in favor of any Secured Party under Swiss law in connection with the ABL Documents and/or the Notes Documents and to agree to and execute in its name and on its behalf as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) any amendments, confirmations and/or alterations to any Swiss Security Document which creates a pledge or any other accessory security interest (akzessorische Sicherheit) including the release or confirmation of release of such Collateral, all subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
(4) No Notes Collateral Agent (i) shall be responsible for or have any liability in respect of any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Common Collateral Agent in respect of any Foreign Collateral or with respect to any Credit Documents to which such Notes Collateral Agent is not a party, and (ii) shall have any duty to monitor the Common Collateral Agent or otherwise keep itself informed as to the performance of the Common Collateral Agent under any Credit Document to which the Common Collateral Agent is a party. Except in the circumstance where a Notes Collateral Agent becomes the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, no Notes Collateral Agent shall have any right to direct or instruct the Common Collateral Agent in respect of any Foreign Collateral, it being understood that in all cases, the Common Collateral Agent will act as provided under the ABL Documents to which it is a party, subject to the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Administration of Foreign Collateral
(1) The Common Collateral Agent shall hold the Foreign Collateral and any Lien thereon for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Foreign Security Documents and any other Credit Document to which the Common Collateral Agent is a party. The Common Collateral Agent shall administer the Foreign Collateral in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Foreign Security Documents and any other Credit Document to which the Common Collateral Agent is a party.
(2) The Common Collateral Agent shall be entitled to exercise such rights and remedies with respect to the Foreign Collateral as are granted to it under the Foreign Security Documents and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party and applicable law.
(3) Subject to Article 4, the ABL Agent and/or the ABL Lenders shall have sole and exclusive authority to direct the Common Collateral Agent and the ABL Agent in respect of all matters
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relating to the Foreign Collateral constituting ABL Priority Collateral and the Foreign Security Documents with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, including, without limitation, to (i) the taking of any action or refraining from taking any action with respect to the Foreign Collateral constituting ABL Priority Collateral and/or any proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the Foreign Collateral constituting ABL Priority Collateral, (ii) the release of Common Collateral Agent’s Lien in any portion of the Foreign Collateral constituting ABL Priority Collateral in connection with a sale of such Foreign Collateral made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the Foreign Security Documents, (iii) the exercise of all privileges, rights and remedies with respect to the Foreign Collateral constituting ABL Priority Collateral or arising pursuant to the Foreign Security Documents or applicable law, in each case, with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral and (iv) the execution, delivery and performance of any amendment, restatement, modification, consent or waiver with respect to the Foreign Security Documents with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral.
(4) Furthermore, subject to Article 4, in relation to the Notes Priority Collateral the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent and/or the Notes Credit Parties shall have sole and exclusive authority to direct the Common Collateral Agent in respect of all matters relating to the Foreign Collateral constituting Notes Priority Collateral and the Foreign Security Documents with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral, including, without limitation, to (i) the taking of any action or refraining from taking any action with respect to the Foreign Collateral constituting Notes Priority Collateral and/or any proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the Foreign Collateral constituting Notes Priority Collateral, (ii) the release of Common Collateral Agent’s Lien in any portion of the Foreign Collateral constituting Notes Priority Collateral in connection with a sale of such Foreign Collateral made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the Foreign Security Documents, (iii) the exercise of all privileges, rights and remedies with respect to the Foreign Collateral constituting Notes Priority Collateral or arising pursuant to the Foreign Security Documents or applicable law, in each case, with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral and (iv) the execution, delivery and performance of any amendment, restatement, modification, consent or waiver with respect to the Foreign Security Documents with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral.
(5) Following the Discharge of ABL Obligations, the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent shall have the right to direct the Common Collateral Agent in respect of all matters relating to the Foreign Collateral constituting ABL Priority Collateral, and/or any Foreign Security Documents with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, including the Exercise of Any Secured Creditor Remedies with respect thereto. Following the Discharge of Notes Obligations, the ABL Agent shall have the right to direct the Common Collateral Agent in respect of all matters relating to the Foreign Collateral constituting Notes Priority Collateral, and/or any Foreign Security Documents with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral, including the Exercise of Any Secured Creditor Remedies with respect thereto.
(6) No Secured Parties shall have any right to take any action with respect to the Foreign Collateral independent of the Common Collateral Agent.
(c) **Rights as a Secured Party.**The Person serving as the Common Collateral Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Secured Party as any other Secured Party and may exercise the same as though it were not the Common Collateral Agent and the term “Secured Party” or “Secured Parties” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Common Collateral Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with any Credit Party or any subsidiary of a Credit Party or other affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Common Collateral Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Secured Parties.
(d) Exculpatory Provisions
(1) The Common Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Foreign Security Documents to which Common Collateral Agent is a party, and its duties hereunder and thereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Common Collateral Agent:
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(i) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a default or Event of Default under the Notes Documents or ABL Documents has occurred and is continuing;
(ii) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers (though it hereby is authorized to take such actions in its Permitted Discretion (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement)), except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the Foreign Security Documents that the Common Collateral Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the ABL Agent or the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent; provided that the Common Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its good faith, based upon the advice of counsel or upon the written opinion of its counsel, may expose the Common Collateral Agent to liability, or for which it is not indemnified to its satisfaction or that is contrary to any Foreign Security Document or applicable law, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any bankruptcy law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property in violation of any bankruptcy law; and
(iii) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the Foreign Security Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Credit Parties or any of their subsidiaries or Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Common Collateral Agent or any of its affiliates in any capacity.
(2) The Common Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the ABL Agent or the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent or (ii) in the absence of its own willful misconduct or gross negligence as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final nonappealable judgment. The Common Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any default or Event of Default under the Notes Documents or ABL Documents unless and until written notice describing such default or Event of Default is given to the Common Collateral Agent by the Credit Parties, ABL Agent, or Controlling Notes Collateral Agent.
(3) The Common Collateral Agent shall not 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 Foreign Security 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 of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any default or Event of Default or (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Foreign Security Document or any other agreement, instrument or document.
(e) Reliance by the Common Collateral Agent.
The Common Collateral 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) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Common Collateral Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and reasonably believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Common Collateral Agent may consult with legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the written advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
(f) Delegation of Duties.
(1) The Common Collateral Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any Foreign Security Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Common Collateral Agent. The Common Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective related
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any of its 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, the ABL Documents, and the Notes Documents, as applicable. Each Collateral Agent also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Common Collateral Agent or its 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 Foreign Security Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
(i) Collateral Matters.
(1) Each of the Collateral Agents irrevocably authorize the Common Collateral Agent, at its option and in its Permitted Discretion (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) to release any Lien or any other claim on any Foreign Collateral granted to or held by the Common Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, under any Foreign Security Document (A) upon the Discharge of Notes Obligations and the Discharge of ABL Obligations, as applicable, in which case such Lien shall only be released with respect to the obligations so discharged; (B) that is sold or otherwise disposed of or to be sold or otherwise disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition permitted hereunder or under the Foreign Security Documents, Notes Documents and ABL Documents or (C) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 3.11(i)(2).
(2) Upon request by the Common Collateral Agent at any time, the ABL Agent or the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent will confirm in writing the Common Collateral Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property or take any other action necessary to administer the Foreign Collateral. In each case, as specified in this Section 3.11(i), the Common Collateral Agent will, at the Credit Parties’ joint and several expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Credit Party such documents as such Credit Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Foreign Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Foreign Security Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Credit Party from its obligations under the Foreign Security Documents, in each case in accordance with the terms hereof and the terms of the Foreign Security Documents.
(3) The Common Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Foreign Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Common Collateral Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Credit Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Common Collateral Agent be responsible or liable to the Secured Parties for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Foreign Collateral.
(j) Discretionary Rights. The Common Collateral Agent may:
(1) assume (unless it has received actual notice to the contrary from the Collateral Agents) that (i) no default or Event of Default has occurred and no Credit Party is in breach of or default under its obligations under any of the Foreign Security Documents, Notes Documents, or ABL Documents, and (ii) any right, power, authority or discretion vested by any Foreign Security Documents, Notes Documents, or ABL Documents in any person has not been exercised;
(2) if it receives any instructions or directions to take any action in relation to the Foreign Collateral, assume that all applicable conditions under this Agreement, ABL Documents and Notes Documents for taking that action have been satisfied;
(3) engage and pay for the advice or services of accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts and a single legal counsel in each applicable jurisdiction (in addition to the Common Collateral Agent’s general outside counsel);
(4) without prejudice for the generality of paragraph (c) above, at any time engage and pay for the services of a single additional counsel in each applicable jurisdiction to act as independent counsel to the Common Collateral Agent (in addition to the Common Collateral Agent’s general outside
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counsel) (and so separate from any lawyers instructed by the other Secured Parties) if the Common Collateral Agent in its reasonable opinion deems this to be desirable and the Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of its so relying on the advice or services of any professional engaged under this Section 3.11(j); and
(5) refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of any Secured Party or the ABL Agent or the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (including bringing any legal action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with the Foreign Security Documents) until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its reasonable discretion require which may be greater in extent than that contained for the benefit of any Secured Party in the Notes Documents or ABL Documents. Notwithstanding any provision of any Notes Documents or ABL Documents to the contrary, the Common Collateral Agent is not obliged to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) Indemnification of Common Collateral Agent.
(1) The Credit Parties covenant and agree that they shall defend and be jointly and severally liable to reimburse and indemnify the Common Collateral Agent (and its Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys and agents (“Common Collateral Agent Related Persons”)) for any and all reasonable expenses and other charges actually incurred by the Common Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in connection with the execution, delivery, administration and enforcement of this Agreement and the Foreign Security Documents (or any of them) and from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, actual reasonable expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Common Collateral Agent, in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, any Foreign Security Document, or any other document delivered in connection herewith or therewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or the enforcement of any of the terms hereof or thereof, in each case, except to the extent caused by the Common Collateral Agent’s or the Common Collateral Agent Related Person’s willful misconduct or gross negligence as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final nonappealable judgment.
(2) The obligations under this Section 3.11(k) shall survive the Discharge of Notes Obligations, the Discharge of ABL Obligations, the resignation of any Common Collateral Agent, and termination of this Agreement and all of the Foreign Security Documents.
(3) Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 3.11(k), the Credit Parties shall have no obligation to indemnify or reimburse any Person for any Taxes unless such taxes would be subject to indemnification or reimbursement under the ABL Credit Agreement or Notes Documents.
(l) Treatment of Proceeds of Foreign Collateral.
(1) All amounts from time to time received or recovered by the Common Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of any Foreign Security Document or in connection with the realization or enforcement of all or any part of the Foreign Collateral (the “Foreign Recoveries”) shall be held by the Common Collateral Agent in trust and applied, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in the following order:
(i) First, in discharging any sums owing to the Common Collateral Agent (in its capacity as such), including (i) amounts owing to Common Collateral Agent to indemnify Common Collateral Agent for claims against it or claims that, in the reasonable discretion of Common Collateral Agent, may be asserted against Common Collateral Agent and are subject to the indemnification provisions of this Agreement and (ii) any deductions and withholdings (on account of taxes or otherwise) which Common Collateral Agent is or may be required by any applicable law to make from any distribution or payment made by it under this Agreement and to pay all taxes which may be assessed against it in respect of any of the Foreign Security Documents,
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or as a consequence of performing its duties, or by virtue of its capacity as Common Collateral Agent (other than in connection with its remuneration for performing its duties under this Agreement); provided that any Foreign Collateral or proceeds thereof that is ABL Priority Collateral may only be applied or retained by Common Collateral Agent to secure indemnification obligations or other amounts owing (or potentially owing) by the ABL Credit Parties and Foreign Collateral or proceeds thereof that is Notes Priority Collateral may only be applied or retained by Common Collateral Agent to secure indemnification obligations or other amounts owing (or potentially owing) by the Notes Credit Parties; and
(ii) Second, to the ABL Agent or the Controlling Collateral Agent to be applied in accordance with Article 4 hereof.
For the avoidance of doubt, following acceleration of any of the Notes Obligations or the ABL Obligations, Common Collateral Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), hold any amount of the Foreign Recoveries (subject to the proviso set forth in subclause “first” above) in a non-interest bearing account(s) in the name of the Common Collateral Agent with such financial institution as it may select (including itself) and for so long as the Common Collateral Agent shall think appropriate in its Permitted Discretion for later application as set forth herein in respect of any sum owing to the Common Collateral Agent that the Common Collateral Agent reasonably considers might become due or owing at any time in the future.
(m) Currency Conversion. The Common Collateral Agent is under no obligation to make the payments to the Secured Parties above in the same currency as that in which the obligations and liabilities owing to the Secured Parties are denominated. To the extent any payment from Common Collateral Agent to the ABL Agent or another Collateral Agent causes a currency conversion, the provisions of the Notes Documents or the ABL Documents (as applicable, based on the ABL Agent or the other Collateral Agent receiving payment) relating to currency conversions shall apply.
(n) Benefits of Common Collateral Agent. The provisions of this Section 3.11 granting rights, privileges, immunities and indemnities to the ABL Agent when acting as Common Collateral Agent, are intended to be in addition to, and shall not impair, the rights, privileges, immunities and indemnities granted to the ABL Agent under the ABL Documents, as the case may be.
(o) Exemption from restrictions on self-dealing. Each of the Credit Parties and the Secured Parties hereby release each Collateral Agent from the restrictions pursuant to section 181 of the German Civil Code and similar restrictions under any applicable law, in each case to the extent legally possible for such Borrowers and Guarantors or Secured Party. Any Borrower, Guarantor or Secured Party prevented by applicable law or its constitutional documents to grant the release from the restrictions pursuant to section 181 German Civil Code shall notify each Collateral Agent without undue delay.
(p) Parallel Debt.
(1) Each Credit Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes (and to the extent necessary undertakes in advance) to pay to the Common Collateral Agent amounts equal to any amounts owing from time to time by such Credit Party to any Secured Party and any other Credit Document pursuant to any Obligations as and when those amounts are due under any Credit Document (such payment undertakings under this Section 3.11 and the obligations and liabilities resulting therefrom being the “Parallel Debt”);
(2) the Common Collateral Agent shall have its own independent right to demand payment of the Parallel Debt by each Credit Party. Each Credit Party and the Common Collateral Agent acknowledge that the payment obligations of each Credit Party under a Credit Document are several, separate and independent (selbständigesSchuldanerkenntnis) from, and shall not in any way limit or affect, the corresponding obligations of each Credit Party to any Secured Party under this Agreement or any other Credit Document (the “Corresponding Debt”) nor shall the amounts for which each Credit Party are liable under
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this Section 3.11 be limited or affected in any way by its Corresponding Debt provided that: (A) the Parallel Debt shall be decreased to the extent that the Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably paid or discharged (other than, in each case, contingent obligations); (B) the Corresponding Debt shall be decreased to the extent that the Parallel Debt has been irrevocably paid or discharged; (C) the amount of the Parallel Debt shall at all times be equal to the amount of the Corresponding Debt; (D) the Parallel Debt will be payable in the currency or currencies of the Corresponding Debt; and (E) for the avoidance of doubt, the Parallel Debt will become due and payable at the same time when the Corresponding Debt becomes due and payable;
(3) the security granted under any German Security Agreement and any Swiss Security Document with respect to the Parallel Debt is granted to the Common Collateral Agent in its capacity as sole creditor of the Parallel Debt;
(4) without limiting or affecting the Common Collateral Agent’s rights against any Credit Party (whether under this Agreement or any other Credit Document), each Credit Party acknowledges that: (A) this Agreement shall not impose any obligation on the Common Collateral Agent to advance any sum to any Credit Party or otherwise under any Credit Document; and (B) for the purpose of any vote taken under any Credit Document, the Common Collateral Agent shall not be regarded as having any participation or commitment other that those which it has in its capacity as a Lender;
(5) the Parties to this Agreement acknowledge and confirm that the provisions contained in this Agreement shall not be interpreted so as to increase the maximum total amount of the Obligations;
(6) the Parallel Debt shall remain effective in case a third person should assume or be entitled, partially or in whole, to any rights of any of the Secured Parties under any Credit Documents, be it by virtue of assignment, assumption or otherwise; and
(7) all monies received or recovered by the Common Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and all amounts received or recovered by the Common Collateral Agent from or by the enforcement of any security granted to secure the Parallel Debt shall be applied in accordance with this Agreement.
ARTICLE 4
APPLICATIONOF PROCEEDS
Section 4.1 Application of Proceeds.
(a) Revolving Nature of ABL Obligations. Each Notes Collateral Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) the ABL Credit Agreement includes a revolving commitment, that in the ordinary course of business the ABL Agent and the ABL Lenders will apply payments and make advances thereunder, and that no application of any Collateral or the release of any Lien by the ABL Agent upon any portion of the Collateral in connection with a permitted disposition by the ABL Credit Parties under the ABL Credit Agreement or other relevant ABL Document shall constitute the Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies under this Agreement; (ii) the amount of the ABL Obligations that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, and that the terms of the ABL Obligations may be modified, amended and restated, extended or amended from time to time, and that the aggregate amount of the ABL Obligations may be increased, replaced or refinanced, in each event, without notice to or consent by the Notes Claimholders and without affecting the provisions hereof; and (iii) all Collateral received by the ABL Agent (so long as such receipt is not the result of the Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies) may be applied, reversed, reapplied, credited, or reborrowed, in whole or in part, to the ABL Obligations at any time; provided, however, that from and after the date on which the ABL Agent (or any other ABL Secured Party) or any Notes Collateral Agent (or any other Notes Claimholders) commences the Exercise of Any Secured Creditor Remedies, all amounts received by the ABL Agent or any ABL Lender or any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder shall be applied as specified in this Section 4.1. The Lien Priority shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any such amendment, modification, supplement, extension, repayment, reborrowing, increase, replacement, renewal, restatement or refinancing of either the ABL Obligations or the Notes Obligations, or any portion thereof. Notwithstanding anything
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to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Notes Document or any ABL Document, each Credit Party and each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that (i) only Notes Priority Collateral or proceeds of the Notes Priority Collateral shall be deposited in the Notes Priority Accounts, (ii) following a Notes Defaults, all proceeds of the Notes Priority Collateral shall be deposited in the Notes Priority Accounts and (iii) prior to the receipt of a Notes Cash Proceeds Notice by the ABL Agent, the ABL Secured Parties are hereby permitted to treat all cash, cash equivalents, Money, collections and payments deposited in any ABL Deposit and Securities Account or otherwise received by any ABL Secured Parties as ABL Priority Collateral, and no such amounts credited to any such ABL Deposit and Securities Account or received by any ABL Secured Parties or applied to the ABL Obligations shall be subject to disgorgement or deemed to be held in trust for the benefit of the Notes Claimholders (and all claims of any Notes Collateral Agent or any other Notes Claimholder to such amounts are hereby waived).
(b) Application of Proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral. The ABL Agent and each Notes Collateral Agent hereby agree that all ABL Priority Collateral, ABL Priority Proceeds and all other Proceeds thereof, received by either of them (i) in connection with any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, (ii) in connection with the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of the ABL Priority Collateral under Section 2.4(d) or Section 6.4, or (iii) in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including set off) relating to the ABL Priority Collateral, in each case, shall be applied,
first, to the payment of costs and expenses of the ABL Agent in connection with such Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies and in accordance with the ABL Documents,
second, to the payment in full or discharge of the ABL Obligations in accordance with the ABL Documents until the Discharge of ABL Obligations shall have occurred,
third, to the payment in full of the Notes Obligations in accordance with the Notes Documents until the Discharge of Notes Obligations shall have occurred, and
fourth, the balance, if any, to the Credit Parties or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct;
provided that if, in connection with an Insolvency Proceeding, the Liens granted in favor of the ABL Agent or the ABL Secured Parties in respect of such ABL Priority Collateral has been voided, avoided, subordinated, or otherwise invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Proceeds received with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral subject to avoidance, subordination or invalidation shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to the payment of the Notes Obligations in accordance with the Notes Documents until Discharge of Notes Obligations shall have occurred so long as the Lien granted in favor of the Notes Collateral Agent and the Notes Claimholder in respect of such ABL Priority Collateral has not been voided, avoided, subordinated, or otherwise invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, further, that in no event shall the Notes Claimholders be entitled to recover a greater amount pursuant to the foregoing proviso than they would have recovered if the Liens granted in favor of the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties were not voided, avoided, subordinated, or otherwise invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Application of Proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral. The ABL Agent and each Notes Collateral Agent hereby agree that all Notes Priority Collateral and all Proceeds thereof, received by either of them (i) in connection with any Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral, (ii) in connection with the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of the Notes Priority Collateral under Section 2.4(d) or Section 6.4, or (iii) in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including set off) relating to the Notes Priority Collateral, in each case, shall be applied,
first, to the payment of costs and expenses of each Notes Collateral Agent in connection with such Exercise of Secured Creditor Remedies and in accordance with the Notes Documents,
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second, to the payment in full of the Notes Obligations in accordance with the Notes Documents (including any intercreditor agreements with respect thereto) until the Discharge of Notes Obligations shall have occurred,
third, to the payment in full of the ABL Obligations in accordance with the ABL Documents until the Discharge of ABL Obligations shall have occurred; and
fourth, the balance, if any, to the Credit Parties or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct;
provided that if, in connection with an Insolvency Proceeding, the Liens granted in favor of the Notes Collateral Agents or the Notes Claimholders in respect of such Notes Priority Collateral has been voided, avoided, subordinated, or otherwise invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Proceeds received with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral subject to avoidance, subordination or invalidation shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to the payment of the ABL Obligations in accordance with the ABL Documents until Discharge of ABL Obligations shall have occurred so long as the Lien granted in favor of the ABL Agent or the ABL Secured Parties in respect of such Notes Priority Collateral has not been voided, avoided, subordinated, or otherwise invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, further, that in no event shall the ABL Agent or the ABL Secured Parties be entitled to recover a greater amount pursuant to the foregoing proviso than they would have recovered if the Liens granted in favor of the Notes Collateral Agents and the Notes Claimholders were not voided, avoided, subordinated, or otherwise invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) Limited Obligation or Liability. In exercising remedies, whether as a secured creditor or otherwise, the ABL Agent shall have no obligation or liability to any Notes Collateral Agent or to any Notes Claimholder, and each Notes Collateral Agent shall have no obligation or liability to the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party, regarding the adequacy of any Proceeds or for any action or omission, except solely for an action or omission that breaches the express obligations undertaken by each Party under the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, none of the Parties hereto waives any claim that it may have against a Secured Party on the grounds that any sale, transfer or other disposition by the Secured Party was not commercially reasonable in every respect as required by the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA or other applicable law.
(e) Turnover of Collateral After Discharge. Upon the Discharge of ABL Obligations, the ABL Agent shall deliver to the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent or shall execute such documents as the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent may reasonably request to enable the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent to have control over any Control Collateral still in the ABL Agent’s possession, custody, or control in the same form as received with any necessary endorsements (in each case, subject to the reinstatement provisions of Section 5.3), or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. Upon the Discharge of Notes Obligations, the Notes Collateral Agents shall deliver to the ABL Agent or shall execute such documents as the ABL Agent may reasonably request to enable the ABL Agent to have control over any Control Collateral still in any Notes Collateral Agent’s possession, custody or control in the same form as received with any necessary endorsements (in each case, subject to the reinstatement provisions of Section 5.3), or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
(f) Mixed Collateral Proceeds. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition (or series of sales, assignments, transfers, leases, licenses, exchanges or other dispositions) of Collateral includes (x) the Equity Interests of any Credit Party that has an interest in any ABL Priority Collateral or (y) ABL Priority Collateral (including pursuant to a sale of ABL Priority Collateral and Notes Priority Collateral), the proceeds of any such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition (or series of sales, assignments, transfers, leases, licenses, exchanges or other dispositions) shall be allocated pursuant to Section 4.1 to the ABL Priority Collateral in
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an amount not less than the sum of (i) the greater of (x) book value or (y) the orderly liquidation value (determined by reference to the most recent appraisal conducted pursuant to the ABL Documents) of any ABL Priority Collateral consisting of Inventory that is subject to such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition (or, in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition of Equity Interests of a Credit Party, the Inventory owned by such Credit Party and its Subsidiaries that are Credit Parties), in each case determined as of the date of each such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition, (ii) the amount of any cash, Money, cash proceeds, and cash equivalents that is subject to such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition (or, in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition of Equity Interests of a Credit Party, the amount of any cash, Money, cash proceeds, and cash equivalents owned by such Credit Party and its Subsidiaries that are Credit Parties), in each case determined as of the date of each such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition, (iii) the face amount of all Credit Card Receivables, Payment Intangibles, and all Accounts that is subject to such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition (or, in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition of Equity Interests of a Credit Party, the face amount of all Credit Card Receivables, Payment Intangibles, and all Accounts owned by such Credit Party and its Subsidiaries that are Credit Parties), in each case determined as of the date of each such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition, and (c) the appraised value (determined by reference to the most recent applicable appraisal (if any) conducted pursuant to the ABL Documents) (or to the extent such assets are not subject to an appraisal, the fair market value) of all other ABL Priority Collateral that is subject to such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition (or, in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition of Equity Interests issued by a Credit Party, any such ABL Priority Collateral owned by such Credit Party and its Subsidiaries that are Credit Parties), determined as of the date of such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, license, exchange or other disposition.
Section 4.2 Specific Performance. Each of the ABL Agent and each Notes Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to demand specific performance of this Agreement, whether or not any Credit Party shall have complied with any of the provisions of any of the Credit Documents, at any time when the other Party shall have failed to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to it. Each of the ABL Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, and each Notes Collateral Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the Notes Claimholders, hereby irrevocably waives any defense based on the adequacy of a remedy at law that might be asserted as a bar to such remedy of specific performance.
ARTICLE 5
INTERCREDITORACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 5.1 Notice of Acceptance and Other Waivers
(a) All ABL Obligations at any time made or incurred by any Credit Party shall be deemed to have been made or incurred in reliance upon this Agreement, and each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, hereby waives notice of acceptance, or proof of reliance by the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party of this Agreement, and notice of the existence, increase, renewal, extension, accrual, creation, or non-payment of all or any part of the ABL Obligations. All Notes Obligations at any time made or incurred by any Credit Party shall be deemed to have been made or incurred in reliance upon this Agreement, and the ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, hereby waives notice of acceptance, or proof of reliance, by each Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholders of this Agreement, and notice of the existence, increase, renewal, extension, accrual, creation, or non-payment of all or any part of the Notes Obligations.
(b) None of the ABL Agent, any ABL Secured Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect, or realize upon any of the Collateral or any Proceeds, or for any delay in doing so, or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral or Proceeds thereof or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part or Proceeds thereof, except as specifically provided in this Agreement. If the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party honors (or fails to honor) a request by any ABL Borrower for an extension of credit pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement or any of the other ABL Documents, whether the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party has knowledge that the honoring of (or failure to honor) any such request would constitute a default under the terms of any Notes Document or an act, condition, or event that, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute such a default, or if the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party otherwise should exercise any of its contractual rights
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or remedies under any ABL Documents (subject to the express terms and conditions hereof), neither the ABL Agent nor any ABL Secured Party shall have any liability whatsoever to any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder as a result of such action, omission, or exercise (so long as any such exercise does not breach the express terms and provisions of this Agreement). The ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties shall be entitled to manage and supervise their loans and extensions of credit under the ABL Credit Agreement and any of the other ABL Documents as they may, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate, and may manage their loans and extensions of credit without regard to any rights or interests that any Notes Collateral Agent or any of the Notes Claimholders have in the Collateral, except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement. Each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that neither the ABL Agent nor any ABL Secured Party shall incur any liability as a result of a sale, lease, license, application, or other disposition of all or any portion of the Collateral or Proceeds thereof, pursuant to the ABL Documents, so long as such disposition is conducted in accordance with mandatory provisions of applicable law and does not breach the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Notes Collateral Agent nor any Notes Claimholder nor any of their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect, or realize upon any of the Collateral or any Proceeds, or for any delay in doing so, or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral or Proceeds thereof or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part or Proceeds thereof, except as specifically provided in this Agreement. If any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder honors (or fails to honor) a request by any Borrower for an extension of credit pursuant to any Notes Document, whether any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder has knowledge that the honoring of (or failure to honor) any such request would constitute a default under the terms of the ABL Credit Agreement or any other ABL Document or an act, condition, or event that, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute such a default, or if any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder otherwise should exercise any of its contractual rights or remedies under the Notes Documents (subject to the express terms and conditions hereof), no Notes Collateral Agent nor any Notes Claimholder shall have any liability whatsoever to the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party as a result of such action, omission, or exercise (so long as any such exercise does not breach the express terms and provisions of this Agreement). The Notes Collateral Agents and the Notes Claimholders shall be entitled to manage and supervise their loans and extensions of credit under the applicable Notes Documents as they may, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate, and may manage their loans and extensions of credit without regard to any rights or interests that the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party has in the Collateral, except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement. The ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that none of the Notes Collateral Agents or the Notes Claimholders shall incur any liability as a result of a sale, lease, license, application, or other disposition of the Collateral or any part or Proceeds thereof, pursuant to the applicable Notes Documents, so long as such disposition is conducted in accordance with mandatory provisions of applicable law and does not breach the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 5.2 Modifications to ABL Documents and Notes Documents
(a) Each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, hereby agrees that, without affecting the obligations of any Notes Collateral Agent or the Notes Claimholders hereunder, the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties may, at any time and from time to time, in their sole discretion without the consent of or notice to any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder, and without incurring any liability to any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder or impairing or releasing the subordination of Lien Priority provided for herein, amend, restate, amend and restate, supplement, replace, refinance, extend, consolidate, restructure, or otherwise modify any of the ABL Documents in any manner whatsoever; provided, however, that any such amendment, restatement, supplemented, replacement, refinancing, extension, consolidated, restructuring or modification shall not, without the prior written consent of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent:
(1) contravene the provisions of this Agreement;
(2) change any covenants, defaults, or events of default under the ABL Credit Agreement or any other ABL Document (including the addition of covenants, defaults, or events of default not contained in the ABL Credit Agreement or other ABL Documents as in effect on the date hereof) to expressly restrict any Credit Party from making payments of the Notes Obligations that would otherwise be permitted under the ABL Documents as in effect on the date hereof; or
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(3) impose any express direct restriction or limitation on the Credit Parties’ ability to effect any refinancing of the Notes Obligations that is materially more restrictive or limiting than any express direct restriction or limitation contained in the ABL Documents in effect as of the date hereof.
(b) The ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, hereby agrees that, without affecting the obligations of the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties hereunder, the Notes Collateral Agents and the Notes Claimholders may each at any time and from time to time, in their sole discretion without the consent of or notice to the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party, and without incurring any liability to the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party or impairing or releasing the subordination of Lien Priority provided for herein, amend, restate, supplement, replace, refinance, extend, consolidate, restructure, or otherwise modify any of the Notes Documents in any manner whatsoever; provided, however, that any such amendment, restatement, supplemented, replacement, refinancing, extension, consolidated, restructuring or modification shall not, without the prior written consent of the ABL Agent:
(1) contravene the provisions of this Agreement;
(2) change any covenants, defaults, or events of default under the Note Documents (including the addition of covenants, defaults, or events of default not contained in the Notes Documents as in effect on the date hereof) to expressly restrict any Credit Party from making payments of the ABL Obligations that would otherwise be permitted under the Notes Documents as in effect on the date hereof;
(3) impose any express direct restriction or limitation on the Credit Parties’ ability to effect any refinancing of the ABL Obligations that is materially more restrictive or limiting than any express direct restriction or limitation contained in the Notes Documents in effect as of the date hereof.
(c) If in connection with the Discharge of ABL Obligations or the Discharge of Notes Obligations, any Credit Party substantially concurrently or subsequently enters into any Refinancing of any ABL Obligation or Notes Obligation as the case may be, which Refinancing is permitted by both the Notes Documents and the ABL Documents, in each case, to the extent such documents will remain in effect following such Refinancing, then such Discharge of ABL Obligations or the Discharge of Notes Obligations, as the case may be, shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement (other than with respect to any actions taken pursuant to this Agreement as a result of the occurrence of such Discharge of ABL Obligations or Discharge of Notes Obligations, as applicable) and, from and after the date on which the New Debt Notice is delivered to the appropriate Collateral Agents in accordance with the next sentence, the obligations under such Refinancing (the “Refinanced Obligations”) shall automatically be treated as ABL Obligations or Notes Obligations, as applicable, for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien Priorities and rights in respect of Collateral set forth herein, and the ABL Agent or Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, under such new ABL Documents or new Notes Documents shall be the ABL Agent or a Notes Collateral Agent for all purposes of this Agreement. Upon receipt of a notice (the “New Debt Notice”) stating that a Credit Party has, in connection with Discharge of ABL Obligations or Discharge of the Notes Obligations or Refinancing of the ABL Obligation or Notes Obligation as the case may be (which Refinancing is permitted by both the Notes Documents and the ABL Documents), entered into, as applicable, new ABL Documents or new Notes Documents (which notice shall include a complete copy of the relevant new documents and provide the identity of the new collateral agent, such agent, the “NewAgent”), the other Collateral Agents shall promptly (a) enter into such documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as such Credit Party or such New Agent shall reasonably request in order to provide to the New Agent the rights contemplated hereby and to provide that the New Agent shall also be subject to the obligations and limitations set forth herein, in each case consistent in all material respects with the terms of this Agreement and (b) to the extent such deliver to the New Agent any Control Collateral (that is Notes Priority Collateral, in the case of a New Agent that is the agent under any new Notes Documents or that is ABL Priority Collateral, in the case of a New Agent that is the agent under any new ABL Documents) held by it together with any necessary endorsements (or otherwise allow the New Agent to obtain control of such Control Collateral). The New Agent shall agree in a writing addressed to the other Collateral Agents for the benefit of the ABL Secured Parties or the Notes Claimholders, as the case may be, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. Subject to Section 2.5, if the new ABL Obligations under the new ABL Documents or the new Notes Obligations under the new Notes Documents are secured by assets of the Credit Parties constituting Collateral that do not also secure the other Obligations, then the other Obligations shall be secured
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at such time by a Lien on such assets to the same extent provided in the ABL Documents, Notes Collateral Documents and this Agreement, subject to the Lien Priorities set forth herein.
(d) The Credit Parties will be permitted to designate (i) as an additional holder of Notes Obligations hereunder each Person who is, or who becomes or who is to become, the registered holder of any Additional Notes Debt incurred by such Credit Party after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of all then existing ABL Documents and Notes Documents and (ii) as a holder of Refinanced Obligations hereunder, each Person who is, or becomes or who is to become, the registered holder of Refinanced Obligations hereunder in accordance with Section 5.2(c). Upon the issuance or incurrence of any such Additional Notes Debt (including any such Additional Notes Debt included in the definition of Obligations in the Initial Notes Security Agreement) or such Refinanced Obligations, as the case may be:
(1) (i) the Credit Parties shall deliver to the Notes Collateral Agents and the ABL Agent an Officers’ Certificate stating that the applicable Credit Parties intend to enter into an Additional Notes Instrument or incur Refinanced Obligations, as applicable, and certifying (x) that the issuance or incurrence of Additional Notes Debt under such Additional Notes Instrument is permitted by each then existing ABL Documents and Notes Documents or (y) in the case of any Refinanced Obligations, the issuance or incurrence thereof is in accordance with Section 5.2(c) and (ii) the issuance or incurrence of such Additional Notes Debt under such Additional Notes Instrument or such Refinanced Obligations, as the case may be, is permitted by each then existing ABL Documents and Notes Documents;
(2) the administrative agent or trustee and collateral agent for such Additional Notes Debt shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agents a Joinder Agreement;
(3) the Notes Collateral Documents in respect of such Additional Notes Debt or the New Agent for such Refinanced Obligations, as applicable, shall be subject to, and shall comply with, Section 2.5 of this Agreement; and
(4) each existing Collateral Agent shall promptly enter into such documents and agreements (including amendments or supplements to this Agreement) as the Credit Parties or the administrative agent or trustee and collateral agent for such Additional Notes Debt or the New Agent for such Refinanced Obligations, as applicable, may reasonably request in order to provide to them the rights, remedies and powers and authorities contemplated hereby, in each case consistent in all respects with the terms of this Agreement.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the foregoing clauses (1) through (4), the Additional Notes Collateral Agent for such Additional Notes Debt or the New Agent for such Refinanced Obligations, as applicable, shall be a Collateral Agent hereunder and the respective obligations will be Additional Notes Obligations or Refinanced Obligations, as applicable, without further act on the part of any Person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to allow the Company or any other Credit Party to incur additional indebtedness unless otherwise permitted by the terms of each applicable Credit Document.
Section 5.3 Reinstatement and Continuation of Agreement.
(a) If the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party is required in any Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Credit Party, or any other Person any payment made in satisfaction of all or any portion of the ABL Obligations (an “ABL Recovery”), then the ABL Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such ABL Recovery. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to such ABL Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect in the event of such ABL Recovery, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair, or otherwise affect the obligations of the Parties from such date of reinstatement. All rights, interests, agreements, and obligations of the ABL Agent, the Notes Collateral Agents, the ABL Secured Parties, and the Notes Claimholders under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall continue irrespective of the commencement of, or any discharge, confirmation, conversion, or
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dismissal of, any Insolvency Proceeding by or against any Credit Party or any other circumstance which otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of any Credit Party in respect of the ABL Obligations or the Notes Obligations. No priority or right of the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party shall at any time be prejudiced or impaired in any way by any act or failure to act on the part of the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party, or any Credit Party or by the noncompliance by any Person with the terms, provisions, or covenants of any of the ABL Documents, regardless of any knowledge thereof which the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party may have.
(b) If any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder is required in any Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise to turn over or otherwise pay to the estate of any Credit Party, or any other Person any payment made in satisfaction of all or any portion of the Notes Obligations (a “Term Recovery”), then the Notes Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Term Recovery. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to such Term Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect in the event of such Term Recovery, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair, or otherwise affect the obligations of the Parties from such date of reinstatement. All rights, interests, agreements, and obligations of the ABL Agent, each Notes Collateral Agent, the ABL Secured Parties, and the Notes Claimholders under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall continue irrespective of the commencement of, or any discharge, confirmation, conversion, or dismissal of, any Insolvency Proceeding by or against or in respect of any Credit Party or any other circumstance which otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of any Credit Party in respect of the ABL Obligations or the Notes Obligations. No priority or right of any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder shall at any time be prejudiced or impaired in any way by any act or failure to act on the part of any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder, or any Credit Party or by the noncompliance by any Person with the terms, provisions, or covenants of any of the Notes Documents, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder may have.
ARTICLE 6
INSOLVENCYPROCEEDINGS
Section 6.1 DIP Financing.
(a) If any Credit Party shall be subject to any Insolvency Proceeding at any time prior to the Discharge of ABL Obligations, and the ABL Agent or the ABL Secured Parties shall seek to provide one or more of the Credit Parties with, or consent to a third party providing, any financing under Section 364 (or any similar provision in or order made under any other applicable Debtor Relief Law) of the Bankruptcy Code or consent to any order for the use of cash collateral constituting ABL Priority Collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in or order made under any other applicable Debtor Relief Law) (in each case or any similar provision of any foreign Debtor Relief Laws or under a court order in respect of measures granted with similar effect under any foreign Debtor Relief Laws) (each, a “DIPFinancing”), with such DIP Financing to be secured at least in part by all or any portion of the ABL Priority Collateral and any other Collateral (including assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision of any foreign Debtor Relief Laws) would be Collateral), then each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that it will raise no objection and will not support any objection to such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral or to the Liens securing the same on the grounds of a failure to provide “adequate protection” for the Liens of the Notes Collateral Agents securing the Notes Obligations or on any other grounds (and will not request any adequate protection with respect to its Lien on the ABL Priority Collateral solely as a result of such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral that is ABL Priority Collateral other than to the extent expressly permitted under Section 6.3), so long as (i) each Notes Collateral Agent retains its Lien on the Collateral to secure the applicable Notes Obligations (in each case, including Proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of the case or proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws) and, as to the Notes Priority Collateral only, such Lien has the same relative priority as existed prior to the commencement of the case or proceeding under the subject Debtor Relief Laws and any Lien on the Notes Priority Collateral securing such DIP Financing is junior and subordinate to the Lien of each Notes Collateral Agent on the Notes Priority Collateral, (ii) all Liens on ABL Priority Collateral securing any such DIP Financing shall be senior to or on a parity with the Liens of the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties securing the ABL Obligations on ABL Priority Collateral, (iii) the proposed DIP Financing does not compel any Credit Party to seek confirmation of a specific plan of reorganization for which all or substantially all of the material terms are set forth in the cash collateral order or DIP Financing documentation, (iv) the terms of the DIP Financing do not expressly require the liquidation of the Collateral prior to an event of default under the DIP Financing documentation, and (v) the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.1(a)
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shall not prevent any Notes Collateral Agent and the Notes Claimholders from objecting to any provision in any DIP Financing relating to any provision or content of a plan of reorganization or arrangement, proposal or other plan of similar effect under any Debtor Relief Laws. To the extent the Liens on such ABL Priority Collateral securing the ABL Obligations under the ABL Documents are subordinated or pari passu with the Liens on such ABL Priority Collateral securing such DIP Financing, the Notes Claimholders will subordinate (and will be deemed hereunder to have subordinated) its Liens on such ABL Priority Collateral to (1) such DIP Financing (and all Obligations relating thereto) and (2) any “carve-out” for professional and United States Trustee fees or similar amounts agreed to by the ABL Collateral Agent, in each case, on the same basis as the other Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing the Notes Obligations are so subordinated to Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing ABL Obligations under this Agreement.
(b) If any Credit Party shall be subject to any Insolvency Proceeding at any time prior to the Discharge of Notes Obligations, and the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent or the Notes Claimholders shall seek to provide any Credit Party with, or shall consent to a third party providing, any DIP Financing, the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent and any Notes Claimholder may seek to provide with such DIP Financing to be secured at least in part by all or any portion of the Notes Priority Collateral and any other Collateral (including assets that, but for the application of Section 552 of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision of any foreign Debtor Relief Laws) would be Collateral), then the ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that it will raise no objection and will not support any objection to such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral or to the Liens securing the same on the grounds of a failure to provide “adequate protection” for the Liens of the ABL Agent securing the ABL Obligations or on any other grounds (and will not request any adequate protection with respect to its Lien on the Notes Priority Collateral solely as a result of such DIP Financing or use of cash collateral that is Notes Priority Collateral other than to the extent permitted under Section 6.3), so long as (i) the ABL Agent retains its Lien on the Collateral to secure the ABL Obligations (in each case, including Proceeds thereof arising after the commencement of the case or proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law) and, as to the ABL Priority Collateral only, such Lien has the same priority as existed prior to the commencement of the case or proceeding under the subject Debtor Relief Laws and any Lien on ABL Priority Collateral securing such DIP Financing furnished by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent or Notes Claimholders is junior and subordinate to the Lien of the ABL Agent on the ABL Priority Collateral, (ii) all Liens on Notes Priority Collateral securing any such DIP Financing shall be senior to or on a parity with the Liens of the Notes Collateral Agents and the Notes Claimholders securing the Notes Obligations on Notes Priority Collateral, (iii) the proposed DIP Financing does not compel any Credit Party to seek confirmation of a specific plan of reorganization for which all or substantially all of the material terms are set forth in the cash collateral order or DIP Financing documentation, (iv) the terms of the DIP Financing do not expressly require the liquidation of the Collateral prior to an event of default under the DIP Financing documentation, and (v) the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.1(a) shall not prevent the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties from objecting to any provision in any DIP Financing relating to any provision or content of a plan of reorganization or arrangement, proposal or other plan of similar effect under any Debtor Relief Laws. To the extent the Liens on such Notes Priority Collateral securing the Notes Obligations under the Notes Documents are subordinated or pari passu with the Liens on such Notes Priority Collateral securing such DIP Financing, the ABL Secured Parties will subordinate (and will be deemed hereunder to have subordinated) its Liens on such Notes Priority Collateral to such (1) DIP Financing (and all Notes Obligations relating thereto) and (2) any “carve-out” for professional and United States Trustee fees or similar amounts agreed to by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, in each case, on the same basis as the other Liens on the Notes Priority Collateral securing the ABL Obligations are so subordinated to Liens on the Notes Priority Collateral securing Notes Obligations under this Agreement.
(c) All Liens granted to the ABL Agent or any Notes Collateral Agent in any Insolvency Proceeding, whether as adequate protection or otherwise, are intended by the Parties to be and shall be deemed to be subject to the Lien Priority and the other terms and conditions of this Agreement. For clarity, the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties shall not seek to, or accept any Lien that would serve to, “prime” the Lien of the Notes Collateral Agents and the Notes Claimholders on the Notes Priority Collateral and the Notes Collateral Agents and the Notes Claimholders shall not seek to, or accept any Lien that would serve to, “prime” the Lien of the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties on the ABL Priority Collateral.
(d) The Notes Collateral Agent and the Notes Claimholders hereby agree that they shall not offer, and shall not permit any of their respective affiliates (that is controlled by or is under common control with any Notes Claimholder) to offer, to provide any DIP Financing to the Credit Parties in any Insolvency Proceeding or
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endorse the provision of any DIP Financing to the Credit Parties in any Insolvency Proceeding pursuant to which Liens that are senior or pari passu in priority to the Liens securing the ABL Obligations are granted on the ABL Priority Collateral to secure such DIP Financing. The ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties hereby agree that they shall not offer, and shall not permit any of their respective affiliates (that is controlled by or is under common control with any ABL Secured Party) to offer, to provide any DIP Financing to the Credit Parties in any Insolvency Proceeding or endorse the provision of any DIP Financing to the Credit Parties in any Insolvency Proceeding pursuant to which Liens that are senior or pari passu in priority to the Liens securing the Notes Obligations are granted on the Notes Priority Collateral to secure such DIP Financing. The foregoing shall not be deemed to limit any (x) Notes Collateral Agent or the Notes Claimholders from offering to provide any DIP Financing to the Credit Parties in any Insolvency Proceeding secured by Liens that are junior and subordinated in priority to the Liens securing the ABL Obligations on the ABL Priority Collateral (subject to the rights of the ABL Secured Parties to object to (or otherwise contest on any ground) such DIP Financing) or (y) ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party from offering to provide any DIP Financing to the Credit Parties in any Insolvency Proceeding secured by Liens that are junior and subordinated in priority to the Liens securing the Notes Obligations on the Notes Priority Collateral (subject to the rights of the Notes Claimholders to object to (or otherwise contest on any ground) such DIP Financing).
Section 6.2 Relief From Stay. Until the Discharge of ABL Obligations has occurred, each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees not to seek relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency Proceeding in respect of any portion of the ABL Priority Collateral without the ABL Agent’s express written consent. Until the Discharge of Notes Obligations has occurred, the ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees not to seek relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency Proceeding in respect of any portion of the Notes Priority Collateral without the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent’s express written consent. In addition, no Notes Collateral Agent nor the ABL Agent shall seek any relief from the automatic stay or any other stay with respect to any Collateral without providing three (3) days’ prior written notice to the other, unless such period is agreed by both the ABL Agent and the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent to be modified or unless the ABL Agent or Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, makes a good faith determination that either (A) the ABL Priority Collateral or the Notes Priority Collateral, as applicable, will decline speedily in value or (B) the failure to take any action will have a reasonable likelihood of endangering the ABL Agent’s or any Notes Collateral Agent’s ability to realize upon its Priority Collateral.
Section 6.3 No Contest; Adequate Protection. (a) Each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that, prior to the Discharge of ABL Obligations, none of them shall seek or accept any form of adequate protection under any or all of §361, §362, §363 or §364 of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision of any foreign Debtor Relief Laws) with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral or from proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral, except as set forth in this Section 6.3(c) or as may otherwise be consented to in writing by the ABL Agent in its sole and absolute discretion. Each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that, prior to the Discharge of ABL Obligations, none of them shall contest (or support any other Person contesting) (i) any request by the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party for adequate protection of its interest in the Collateral (unless in contravention of Section 6.1(c) above), (ii) any request by the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party for adequate protection payments in the form of interest at the contract rate and reasonable fees and expenses of the ABL Agent, so long as no such payments are made with any proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral, (iii) any proposed provision of DIP Financing by the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties (or any other Person proposing to provide DIP Financing with the consent of the ABL Agent) (unless in contravention of Section 6.1(a) or Section 6.1(c) above) or (iv) any objection by the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party to any motion, relief, action, or proceeding based on a claim by the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party that its interests in the Collateral are not adequately protected (or any other similar request under any law applicable to an Insolvency Proceeding), so long as any Liens granted to the ABL Agent as adequate protection of its interests are subject to this Agreement.
(b) The ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that, prior to the Discharge of Notes Obligations, none of them shall seek any form of adequate protection under any or all of §361, §362, §363 or §364 of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision of any foreign Debtor Relief Laws) with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral or from proceeds of Notes Priority Collateral, except as set forth in this Section 6.3(c) or as may otherwise be consented to in writing by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion. The ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that, prior to the Discharge of Notes Obligations, none of them shall contest (or support any other Person contesting) (i) any request by any Notes
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Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder for adequate protection of its interest in the Collateral (unless in contravention of Section 6.1(c) above), (ii) any request by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder for adequate protection payments in the form of interest at the contract rate and reasonable fees and expenses of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, so long as no such payments are made with any proceeds of ABL Priority Collateral, (iii) any proposed provision of DIP Financing by any Notes Collateral Agent or Notes Claimholder (or any other Person proposing to provide DIP Financing with the consent of the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent) (unless in contravention of Section 6.1(b) or Section 6.1(c) above) or (iv) any objection by any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on a claim by any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder that its interests in the Collateral are not adequately protected (or any other similar request under any law applicable to an Insolvency Proceeding), so long as any Liens granted to any Notes Collateral Agent as adequate protection of its interests are subject to this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions in this Section 6.3, in any Insolvency Proceeding:
(1) if the ABL Secured Parties (or any subset thereof) are granted adequate protection with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral in the form of additional collateral (even if such collateral is not of a type which would otherwise have constituted ABL Priority Collateral, but provided it does not constitute Notes Priority Collateral), then the ABL Agent, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself or any of the Notes Claimholders, may seek or request (and the ABL Secured Parties will not oppose such request unless in contravention of Section 6.1(c)) adequate protection with respect to its interests in such Collateral in the form of a Lien on the same additional collateral, which Lien will be subordinated to the Liens securing the ABL Obligations on the same basis as the other Liens of Notes Collateral Agents on ABL Priority Collateral; and
(2) in the event the Notes Claimholders or any subset thereof are granted adequate protection in respect of Notes Priority Collateral in the form of additional collateral (even if such collateral is not of a type which would otherwise have constituted Notes Priority Collateral, but provided it does not constitute ABL Priority Collateral), then each Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and any of the Notes Claimholders, agrees that the ABL Agent on behalf of itself or any of the ABL Secured Parties, may seek or request (and the Notes Claimholders will not oppose such request unless in contravention of Section 6.1(c)) adequate protection with respect to its interests in such Collateral in the form of a Lien on the same additional collateral, which Lien will be subordinated to the Liens securing the Notes Obligations on the same basis as the other Liens of the ABL Agent on Notes Priority Collateral.
(3) Except as otherwise expressly set forth in Section 6.1(c) or in connection with the exercise of remedies with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, nothing herein shall limit the rights of the Notes Collateral Agents or the Notes Claimholders from seeking adequate protection with respect to their rights in the Notes Priority Collateral in any Insolvency Proceeding (including adequate protection in the form of a cash payment, periodic cash payments or otherwise). Except as otherwise expressly set forth in Section 6.1(c) or in connection with the exercise of remedies with respect to the Notes Priority Collateral, nothing herein shall limit the rights of the ABL Agent or the ABL Secured Parties from seeking adequate protection with respect to their rights in the ABL Priority Collateral in any Insolvency Proceeding (including adequate protection in the form of a cash payment, periodic cash payments or otherwise).
Section 6.4 Asset Sales. Each Notes Collateral Agent agrees, on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, that it will not oppose (and will not support any other Person in opposing) and will be deemed to consent to any sale consented to by the ABL Agent of any ABL Priority Collateral pursuant to Section 363(f) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision under the law applicable to any Insolvency Proceeding or under a court order in respect of measures granted with similar effect under any foreign Debtor Relief Laws) so long as (i) any such sale is made subject to Section 3.6, (ii) the Notes Collateral Agents, for the benefit of the applicable Notes Claimholders, shall retain a Lien on the proceeds of such sale subject to the relative priorities set forth in Section 2.1, and (iii) the proceeds of such sale are applied to the ABL Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1(b). The ABL Agent agrees, on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, that it will not oppose (and will not support any other Person in opposing) and will be deemed to consent to any sale consented to by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent of any Notes Priority Collateral pursuant to Section 363(f) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision under
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the law applicable to any Insolvency Proceeding or under a court order in respect of measures granted with similar effect under any foreign Debtor Relief Laws) so long as (i) any such sale is made subject to Section 3.6, (ii) the ABL Agent, for the benefit of the ABL Secured Parties, shall retain a Lien on the proceeds of such sale subject to the relative priorities set forth in Section 2.1, and (iii) the proceeds of such sale are applied to the Notes Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1(c). Subject to the requirements of this Agreement, if such sale of Collateral includes both ABL Priority Collateral and Notes Priority Collateral proceeds of such collateral shall be applied in a manner consistent with Section 4.1(f).
Section 6.5 Separate Grants of Security and Separate Classification. Each Notes Claimholders and each ABL Secured Party acknowledges and agrees that (i) the grants of Liens pursuant to the ABL Collateral Documents and the Notes Collateral Documents constitute two separate and distinct grants of Liens and (ii) because of, among other things, their differing rights in the Collateral, the Notes Obligations are fundamentally different from the ABL Obligations and must be separately classified in any plan of reorganization (or other plan or proposal of similar effect under any Debtor Relief Laws) proposed, confirmed, or adopted in an Insolvency Proceeding. To further effectuate the intent of the parties as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, if it is held that the claims of the ABL Secured Parties and the Notes Claimholders in respect of the Collateral constitute only one secured claim (rather than separate classes of secured claims subject to the relative priorities set forth herein with respect to the Collateral), then the ABL Secured Parties and the Notes Claimholders hereby acknowledge and agree that all distributions from the Collateral shall be made as if there were separate classes of ABL Obligation claims and Notes Obligation claims against the Credit Parties, with the effect being that, to the extent that the aggregate value of the ABL Priority Collateral or Notes Priority Collateral, as applicable, is sufficient (for this purpose ignoring all claims held by the other Secured Parties), the ABL Secured Parties or the Notes Claimholders, respectively, shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts distributed to them in respect of principal, pre-petition interest and other claims, all amounts owing in respect of post-petition interest, fees, and expenses (regardless of whether any claim therefor is allowed or allowable in any such Insolvency Proceeding) that is available from each pool of Priority Collateral for each of the ABL Secured Parties and the Notes Claimholders, respectively, before any distribution is made in respect of the claims held by the other Secured Parties from such applicable pool of Priority Collateral, with the other Secured Parties hereby acknowledging and agreeing to turn over to the respective other Secured Parties amounts otherwise received or receivable by them from such applicable pool of Priority Collateral to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this sentence, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing the aggregate recoveries.
Section 6.6 Enforceability. The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be and shall be enforceable under Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision of any foreign Debtor Relief Laws).
Section 6.7 ABL Obligations Unconditional. All rights of the ABL Agent hereunder, and all agreements and obligations of the Notes Collateral Agents, the Notes Claimholders and the Credit Parties (to the extent applicable) hereunder, shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:
(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any ABL Document;
(b) any change in the time, place or manner of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any portion of the ABL Obligations, or any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, or any refinancing, replacement, refunding or restatement of any ABL Document (but solely to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 5.2(a) hereof);
(c) any exchange, release, voiding, avoidance or non perfection of any security interest in any Collateral or any other collateral, or any release, amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, or any refinancing, replacement, refunding, restatement or increase of all or any portion of the ABL Obligations or any guarantee or guaranty thereof; or
(d) any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Credit Party in respect of the ABL Obligations (other than Discharge of ABL Obligations), or of any of the Notes Collateral Agents or any Credit Party, to the extent applicable, in respect of this Agreement.
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Section 6.8 Notes ObligationsUnconditional. All rights of each Notes Collateral Agent hereunder, and all agreements and obligations of the ABL Agent, the ABL Secured Parties and the Credit Parties (to the extent applicable) hereunder, shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:
(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Notes Document;
(b) any change in the time, place or manner of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any portion of the Notes Obligations, or any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, or any refinancing, replacement, refunding or restatement of any Notes Document (but solely to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 5.2(a) hereof);
(c) any exchange, release, voiding, avoidance or non perfection of any security interest in any Collateral, or any other collateral, or any release, amendment, waiver or other modification, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, or any refinancing, replacement, refunding, restatement or increase of all or any portion of the Notes Obligations or any guarantee or guaranty thereof; or
(d) any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Credit Party in respect of the Notes Obligations (other than Discharge of Notes Obligations), or of any of the ABL Agent or any Credit Party, to the extent applicable, in respect of this Agreement.
Section 6.9 Waivers –Bankruptcy Code Sections 506(c) and 1111(b)(2).
(a) Each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, waives any claim it may hereafter have against any ABL Secured Party arising out of the election of any ABL Secured Party of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Debtor Relief Law or out of any grant of a security interest in connection with the ABL Priority Collateral in any Insolvency Proceeding.
(b) The ABL Agent, for itself and on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties, waives any claim it may hereafter have against any Notes Claimholder arising out of the election of any Notes Claimholder of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Debtor Relief Law or out of any grant of a security interest in connection with the Notes Priority Collateral in any Insolvency Proceeding.
(c) Until the Discharge of the ABL Obligations has occurred, each Notes Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that it will not assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Debtor Relief Law senior to or on a parity with the Liens on ABL Priority Collateral securing the ABL Obligations for costs or expenses of preserving or disposing of any Collateral.
(d) Until the Discharge of the Notes Obligations has occurred, the ABL Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other ABL Secured Parties, will not assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Debtor Relief Law senior to or on a parity with the Liens on Notes Priority Collateral securing the Notes Obligations for costs or expenses of preserving or disposing of any Collateral.
Section 6.10 Post-Petition Interest.
(a) Neither any Notes Collateral Agent nor any Notes Claimholder shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party for allowance in any Insolvency Proceeding of ABL Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees, or expenses to the extent of the value of the Lien securing any ABL Secured Party’s claim, without regard to the existence of the Lien of each Notes Collateral Agent on behalf of the applicable Notes Claimholder on the Collateral.
(b) Neither the ABL Agent nor any other ABL Secured Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder for allowance in any Insolvency Proceeding of
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Notes Obligations consisting of post-petition interest, fees, or expenses to the extent of the value of the Lien securing the Notes Claimholder’s claim, without regard to the existence of the Lien of the ABL Agent on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties on the Collateral.
Section 6.11 Reorganization Securities.
If, in any Insolvency Proceeding involving a Credit Party, debt obligations of the reorganized debtor secured by Liens upon any property of the reorganized debtor are distributed pursuant to a plan of reorganization or arrangement, proposal or similar dispositive restructuring plan, both on account of ABL Obligations and on account of Notes Obligations, then, to the extent the debt obligations distributed on account of the ABL Obligations and on account of the Notes Obligations are secured by Liens upon the same property, the provisions of this Agreement will survive the distribution of such debt obligations pursuant to such plan or proposal and will apply with like effect to the Liens securing such debt obligations.
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 Rights of Subrogation. Each Notes Collateral Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, agrees that no payment to the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement (including Section 3.8(b)) shall entitle any Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until the Discharge of ABL Obligations shall have occurred. Following the Discharge of ABL Obligations, the ABL Agent agrees to execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent or any applicable Notes Claimholder may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the ABL Obligations resulting from payments to the ABL Agent by such Person (other than with respect to any amounts paid pursuant to Section 3.8(b)), so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by the ABL Agent are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof. The ABL Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, agrees that no payment to a Notes Collateral Agent or any Notes Claimholder pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall entitle the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until the Discharge of Notes Obligations shall have occurred. Following the Discharge of Notes Obligations, each Notes Collateral Agent agrees to execute such documents, agreements, and instruments as the ABL Agent or any ABL Secured Party may reasonably request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any such Person of an interest in the Notes Obligations resulting from payments to any Notes Collateral Agent by such Person, so long as all costs and expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith by any Notes Collateral Agent are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof.
Section 7.2 FurtherAssurances. The Parties will, at their own expense and at any time and from time to time, promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or desirable, or that either Party may reasonably request, in order to protect any right or interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the ABL Agent or the Notes Collateral Agents to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder; provided, however, that no Party shall be required to pay over any payment or distribution, execute any instruments or documents, or take any other action referred to in this Section 7.2, to the extent that such action would contravene any law, order or other legal requirement or any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement (as then in effect), and in the event of a controversy or dispute, such Party may interplead any payment or distribution in any court of competent jurisdiction, without further responsibility in respect of such payment or distribution under this Section 7.2.
Section 7.3 Representations. Each Notes Collateral Agent represents and warrants to the ABL Agent that it has the requisite power and authority under the Notes Documents to enter into, execute, deliver, and carry out the terms of this Agreement on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders that it represents and that this Agreement shall be binding obligations of such Notes Collateral Agent and the applicable Notes Claimholders, enforceable against such Notes Collateral Agent and the applicable Notes Claimholders in accordance with its terms. The ABL Agent represents and warrants to each Notes Collateral Agent that it has the requisite power and authority under the ABL Documents to enter into, execute, deliver, and carry out the terms of this Agreement on behalf of itself
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and the ABL Secured Parties and that this Agreement shall be binding obligations of the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties, enforceable against the ABL Agent and the ABL Secured Parties in accordance with its terms.
Section 7.4 Amendments. Subject to Sections 5.2(c) and (d), no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement nor consent to any departure by any Party hereto shall be effective unless it is in a written agreement executed by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent and the ABL Agent, and, in the case of any amendment or waiver that would be materially adverse to a Credit Party, the Company, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that the Company shall be given notice of any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement promptly after the effectiveness thereof (it being understood that the failure to deliver such notice to the Company shall in no way impact the effectiveness of any such amendment, modification or waiver). Section 7.20 (Limitations of Enforcement against German Credit Parties) may be amended or waived only with the consent of the German Credit Parties, in addition to the ABL Agent and the Controlling Notes Agent, and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties. This Agreement may be amended without the consent of the Collateral Agents, to include acknowledgments from additional Credit Parties.
Section 7.5 Addresses for Notices. Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and may be personally served, telecopied, emailed, or sent by overnight express courier service or United States mail and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by courier service, upon receipt of an email or telecopy or four (4) days after deposit in the United States mail (certified, with postage prepaid and properly addressed). For the purposes hereof, the addresses of the Parties hereto (until notice of a change thereof is delivered as provided in this Section) shall be as set forth below or, as to each Party, at such other address as may be designated by such Party in a written notice to all of the other Parties.
| ABL Agent: | ACF FINCO I LP |
|---|---|
| 560 White Plains Road, Suite 400 | |
| Tarrytown, NY 10591 | |
| Attention: Tim Sardinia, Principal | |
| Telephone: 914-418-1229 | |
| Email: tsardinia@aresmgmt.com | |
| And in each case, with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | |
| Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP | |
| Two International Place | |
| Boston, Massachusetts 02110 | |
| Attention: Mark Silva & Seth Mennillo | |
| Facsimile No: 617-502-5127 & 617-502-4994 | |
| Email: msilva@choate.com & smennillo@choate.com | |
| Initial Notes | |
| Collateral Agent: | Wilmington Trust, National Association |
| Global Capital Markets | |
| 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290 | |
| Minneapolis, MN 55402 | |
| Facsimile No: 612-217-5651 | |
| Attention: Fossil Group, Inc. Administrator |
Section 7.6 No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
Section 7.7 Continuing Agreement, Transfer of Secured Obligations. This Agreement is a continuing agreement and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the Discharge of ABL Obligations or the
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Discharge of Notes Obligations shall have occurred, (b) be binding upon the Parties and their successors and assigns, and (c) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors, transferees and permitted assigns. Nothing herein is intended, or shall be construed to give, any other Person any right, remedy or claim under, to or in respect of this Agreement or any Collateral. All references to any Credit Party shall include any Credit Party as debtor-in-possession and any receiver, interim receiver, administrator, liquidator, trustee or similar official for such Credit Party in any Insolvency Proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (c), the ABL Agent, any ABL Secured Party, any Notes Collateral Agent, or any Notes Claimholder may assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of the ABL Obligations or the Notes Obligations in accordance with the ABL Credit Agreement or the applicable Notes Documents, in each case, as applicable, to any other Person (other than any Credit Party or any Affiliate of any Credit Party and any Subsidiary of any Credit Party), and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the rights and obligations in respect thereof granted to the ABL Agent, any Notes Collateral Agent, any ABL Secured Party, or any Notes Claimholder, as the case may be, herein or otherwise. The ABL Secured Parties and the Notes Claimholders may continue, at any time and without notice to the other parties hereto, to extend credit and other financial accommodations, lend monies and provide Indebtedness to, or for the benefit of, any Credit Party on the faith hereof.
Section 7.8 GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES BUT INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto.
Section 7.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and it is not necessary that the signatures of all Parties be contained on any one counterpart hereof, each counterpart will be deemed to be an original, and all together shall constitute one and the same document. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement electronic transmission or other electronic imaging shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 7.10 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the ABL Agent, ABL Secured Parties, the Notes Collateral Agents, and Notes Claimholders. No other Person (including any Credit Parties or any Affiliate of any Credit Party, or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party) shall be deemed to be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
Section 7.11 Headings. The headings of the articles and sections of this Agreement are inserted for purposes of convenience only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
Section 7.12 Severability. If any of the provisions in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement and shall not invalidate the Lien Priority or the application of Proceeds and other priorities set forth in this Agreement. 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.
Section 7.13 Attorneys ’ Fees. The Parties agree that if any dispute, arbitration, litigation, or other proceeding is brought with respect to the enforcement of this Agreement or any provision hereof, the prevailing party in such dispute, arbitration, litigation, or other proceeding shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs and expenses incurred in the enforcement of this Agreement, irrespective of whether suit is brought.
Section 7.14 VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER.
(a) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
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COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT BY IT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES SHALL BE BROUGHT, AND SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED, EXCLUSIVELY IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH PARTY 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 SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY ABL SECURED PARTY OR ANY NOTES CLAIMHOLDERS MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY OR ANY OF ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(b) EACH PARTY 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 IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (a) OF THIS SECTION. 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.
(c) 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 THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION. EACH PARTY HERETO REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER AND IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
(d) EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 7.5. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
Section 7.15 Intercreditor Agreement. This Agreement is the “Intercreditor Agreement” referred to in the ABL Credit Agreement and this Agreement is the “ABL Intercreditor Agreement” referred to in the Initial Notes Indentures. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to subordinate the obligations due to (i) any ABL Secured Party to the obligations due to any Notes Claimholder or (ii) any Notes Claimholder to the obligations due to any ABL Secured Party (in each case, whether before or after the occurrence of an Insolvency Proceeding), it being the intent of the Parties that this Agreement shall effectuate a subordination of Liens but not a subordination of Indebtedness.
Section 7.16 No Warranties or Liability. Each Notes Collateral Agent and the ABL Agent acknowledge and agree that neither has made any representation or warranty with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectability or enforceability of any other ABL Document or any Notes Document. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Notes Collateral Agent and the ABL Agent will be entitled to manage and supervise their respective extensions of credit to any Credit Party in accordance with law and their usual practices, modified from time to time as they deem appropriate.
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Section 7.17 Conflicts. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any ABL Document or any Notes Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.
Section 7.18 Costs and Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred by each Notes Collateral Agent and the ABL Agent, including, without limitation pursuant to Section 4.1(e) hereunder shall be reimbursed by the Credit Parties as provided in Section 7.07 of the Initial Notes Indentures (or any similar provision in any Additional Notes Instrument) and Section 9.03 (or any similar provision) of the ABL Credit Agreement.
Section 7.19 Information Concerning Financial Condition of the CreditParties.
(a) Each of the Notes Collateral Agents and the ABL Agent hereby assumes responsibility for keeping itself informed of the financial condition of the Credit Parties and all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the ABL Obligations or the Notes Obligations. Each Notes Collateral Agent and the ABL Agent hereby agree that no party shall have any duty to advise any other Party of information known to it regarding such condition or any such circumstances. In the event any Notes Collateral Agent or the ABL Agent, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any information to any other Party to this Agreement, (a) it shall be under no obligation (i) to provide any such information to such other Party or any other Party on any subsequent occasion, (ii) to undertake any investigation not a part of its regular business routine, or (iii) to disclose any other information, (b) it makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any such information and shall not be liable for any information contained therein, and (c) the Party receiving such information hereby agrees to hold the other Party harmless from any action the receiving Party may take or conclusion the receiving Party may reach or draw from any such information, as well as from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses to which such receiving Party may become subject arising out of or in connection with the use of such information.
(b) The Credit Parties agree that any information provided to the ABL Agent, each Notes Collateral Agent, any ABL Secured Party or any Notes Claimholder may be shared by such Person with any ABL Secured Party, any Notes Claimholder, the ABL Agent or any Notes Collateral Agent notwithstanding a request or demand by any such Credit Party that such information be kept confidential; provided that such information shall otherwise be subject to the respective confidentiality provisions in the ABL Credit Agreement and the Notes Documents, as applicable.
Section 7.20 Limitations of Enforcement against German Credit Parties.
(a) The Secured Parties agree not to enforce any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to a relevant Credit Agreement) under this Agreement or the other Credit Documents if and to the extent that (i) the relevant payment and/or enforcement proceeds are applied in satisfaction of any liabilities (including guarantees, letters of credit or similar instruments) of the respective German Credit Party’s direct or indirect shareholder(s) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder (verbundenes Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (other than the liabilities of any of the respective German Credit Party’s wholly owned subsidiaries and, for the avoidance of doubt, the respective German Credit Party’s own liabilities) and (ii) such payment and/or enforcement under this Agreement or the other Credit Documents would cause the amount of the respective German Credit Party’s net assets (Reinvermögen), as adjusted pursuant to the following provisions, to fall below the amount of its registered share capital (Stammkapital) (Begründung einer Unterbilanz) or to increase any already existing capital impairment (Vertiefung einer Unterbilanz) in violation of sections 30 and 31 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG), (each such event is hereinafter referred to as a “CapitalImpairment”). For the purposes of this Section 7.20 net assets (Reinvermögen) “net assets” (Reinvermögen) means the assets calculated on the basis of the balance sheet items listed in sections 266 para. 2 A, B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code (HGB) less all liabilities listed in section 266 para. 3 B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code (HGB) and less such amounts being subject to a distribution barrier (Ausschüttungssperre) pursuant to section 268 para. 8 of the German Commercial Code (HGB), pursuant to section 253 para. 6 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) or pursuant to section 272 para. 5 of the German Commercial Code (HGB), provided that any deviating specifications made by the Federal High Court (Bundesgerichtshof) for the calculation of the net assets shall be taken into account and that for the purposes of the calculation of the enforceable amount (if any), the following balance sheet items shall be adjusted as follows: (i) the amount of any increase of the respective German Credit Party’s registered share capital after the date of this Agreement
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that has been effected without prior written consent of the relevant Agent shall be deducted from the respective German Credit Party’s registered share capital; (ii) loans provided to the respective German Credit Party by any member of the group shall be disregarded if and to the extent such loans are subordinated or are considered subordinated by operation of law and such loans are not shown in the balance sheet as liability of the respective German Credit Party, provided that the creditor of the corresponding receivables could waive such receivables without violating applicable law or any Credit Document; and (iii) loans or other contractual liabilities incurred in violation of the provisions of the Credit Documents shall be disregarded.
(b) Disposal of Relevant Assets. Provided that an enforcement is limited due to the aforementioned provisions, the respective German Credit Party shall dispose of all assets, to the extent legally permitted and commercially justifiable, which are not necessary for its business (nicht betriebsnotwendig) on market terms where the relevant assets are shown in the balance sheet of the respective German Credit Party with a book value which is significantly lower than the market value of such assets.
(c) Management Notification/Auditor’s Determination. The limitation pursuant to this Section 7.20 shall apply, if following a notice by the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, by a Secured Party) that it intends to enforce any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to the relevant Credit Document) under this Agreement or the other Credit Documents, the respective German Credit Party notifies the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, the relevant Secured Party) (“Management Notification”) within ten (10) days upon receipt of the relevant notice that a Capital Impairment would occur (setting out in reasonable detail to what extent a Capital Impairment would occur and providing prima facie evidence that a realization or other measures undertaken in accordance with the mitigation provisions set out above would not prevent such Capital Impairment); if the Management Notification is contested by the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, the relevant Secured Party), the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, the relevant Secured Party) shall nevertheless be entitled to enforce any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to the relevant Credit Document) under this Agreement or the other Credit Documents up to such amount, which is, based on the Management Notification, undisputed between itself and the respective German Credit Party. In relation to the amount which is in dispute, the respective German Credit Party undertakes (at its own cost and expense) to arrange for the preparation of a balance sheet by its auditors in order to have such auditors determine whether (and if so, to what extent) any enforcement of payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, with-out limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to the relevant Credit Document) under this Agreement or the other Credit Documents would cause a Capital Impairment (the “Auditor’s Determination”). The Auditor’s Determination shall be prepared, taking into account the adjustments set out above in relation to the calculation of a Capital Impairment, by applying the generally accepted accounting principles applicable from time to time in Germany (Grundsätze ordnungsmä ß iger Buchführung) based on the same principles and evaluation methods as consistently applied by the respective German Credit Party in the preparation of its financial statements, in particular in the preparation of its most recent annual balance sheet, and taking into consideration applicable court rulings of German courts. The respective German Credit Party shall provide the Auditor’s Determination to the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, the relevant Secured Party) within thirty (30) days from the date on which the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, the relevant Secured Party) contested the Management Notification in writing. The Auditor’s Determination shall be binding on the respective German Credit Party and the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, the relevant Secured Party). If, and to the extent that, any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to the relevant Credit Document) under this Agreement or the other Credit Documents has been enforced without regard to the limitation set forth in Section 7.20(a) because the amount of the available net assets pursuant to the Auditor’s Determination is lower than the amount stated in the Management Notification, the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, the relevant Secured Party) shall upon written demand of the respective German Credit Party to the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, a the relevant Secured Party) repay any amount (if and to the extent already paid to the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, the relevant Secured Party)) up to and including the amount calculated in the Auditor’s Determination as of the date the enforcement of any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to the relevant Credit Document) under this Agreement or any other Credit Document was made. If pursuant to the Auditor’s Determination the amount of the available net assets is higher than set out in the Management Notification, the relevant Agent (or, if applicable, the relevant Secured Party) shall be entitled to enforce into such available net assets accordingly.
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(d) Exceptions. Notwithstanding the above, the limitations pursuant to this Section 7.20 shall not apply: (i) if, at the time of the enforcement of payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to the relevant Credit Document) hereunder, the limitations set out in Section 7.20(a) are (due to a change in law or applicable court rulings or otherwise) no longer required in order to protect the managing director(s) of the respective German Credit Party from being personally or criminally liable for such obligation according to section 31 of the German Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbH-Gesetz); or (ii) if the respective German Credit Party is party as dominated entity (beherrschtes Unternehmen) of a domination agreement (Beherrschungsvertrag) and/or a profit and loss transfer agreement (Gewinnabführungsvertrag) pursuant to section 30 para 1 sentence 2 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG) (directly or through an unbroken chain of domination and/or profit and loss pooling agreements) with the entity whose liabilities are secured or shall be paid, unless the enforcement of payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to the relevant Credit Document) hereunder or under the other Credit Documents would cause of violation of sections 30, 31 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG); or (iii) if the respective German Credit Party has a recourse right (Rückgriffsanspruch) pursuant to section 30 para 1 sentence 2 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG), towards its direct or indirect shareholder(s) (upstream) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder (verbundenes Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (cross-stream) whose liabilities are secured or shall be paid which is fully recoverable (werthaltig); or (iv) for so long as the respective German Credit Party fails to deliver the Management Notification and/or the Auditor’s Determination pursuant to Section 7.20(c); or (v) to any amounts borrowed under the Credit Documents to the extent the proceeds of such borrowing are on-lent to the respective German Credit Party or its Subsidiaries to the extent that any amounts so on-lent are still outstanding at the time the relevant demand is made against the respective German Credit Party and the repayment of such loans as a result of such on-lending is not prohibited by the Credit Documents or by operation of law; or (vi) if insolvency proceedings have been opened in relation to such German Credit Party and the federal court of justice in Germany (Bundesgerichtshof) has determined that any enforcement of up-stream or cross-stream security and consequential payments no longer cause any personal liability of any managing director of such German Credit Party.
Section 7.21 Limitations of Enforcement **** against Swiss Credit Parties.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Credit Document, if and to the extent that a Swiss Credit Party becomes liable under this Agreement or any other Credit Document for obligations other than obligations of one of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries (i.e. obligations of its respective direct or indirect parent companies (up-stream liabilities) or sister companies (cross-stream liabilities)) (the “Restricted Obligations”) and if complying with such obligations would not be permitted under Swiss corporate law then applicable, then such obligations and payment amount shall from time to time be limited to the amount permitted to be paid under applicable Swiss law; provided that such limited amount shall at no time be less than the relevant Swiss Credit Party’s distributable capital (presently being the balance sheet profits and any reserves available for distribution) at the time or times performance of the relevant obligations is due or requested from such Swiss Credit Party, and further provided that such limitation (as may apply from time to time or not) shall not (generally or definitively) release the relevant Swiss Credit Party from its obligations in excess thereof, but merely postpone the payment date therefore until such times as payment is again permitted notwithstanding such limitation.
(b) In case a Swiss Credit Party who must make a payment in respect of Restricted Obligations under this Agreement or any other Credit Document is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in respect of such payment, such Swiss Credit Party shall:
(1) procure that such payments can be made without deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax, or with deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax at a reduced rate, by discharging the liability to such tax by notification pursuant to applicable law (including double tax treaties) rather than payment of the tax;
(2) if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the rate of 35 per cent. (or such other rate as in force from time to time), or if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) above applies for a part of the Swiss Withholding Tax only, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the reduced rate resulting after the discharge of part of such tax
61
by notification under applicable law, from any payment made by it in respect of Restricted Obligations and promptly pay any such taxes to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (Eidgenössische Steuerverwaltung);
(3) notify the Common Collateral Agent that such notification, or as the case may be, deduction has been made and provide the Common Collateral Agent with evidence that such a notification of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration has been made or, as the case may be, such taxes deducted have been paid to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration;
(4) in the case of a deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax:
(i) use its best efforts to ensure that any person other than a Secured Party which is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment in respect of Restricted Obligations, will, as soon as possible after such deduction (y) request a refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax under applicable law (including tax treaties) and (z) pay to the Common Collateral Agent upon receipt any amounts so refunded; and
(ii) if a Secured Party is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment, and if requested by the Common Collateral Agent, shall provide the Common Collateral Agent (on its behalf or on behalf of any Secured Party) those documents that are required by law and applicable tax treaties to be provided by the payer of such tax, for each relevant Secured Party, to prepare a claim for refund of Swiss Withholding Tax.
(c) If a Swiss Credit Party is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in accordance with Section 7.21(b) above, the Common Collateral Agent shall be entitled to further enforce the Swiss Credit Party’s obligations and apply proceeds therefrom against the Restricted Obligations up to an amount which is equal to that amount which would have been obtained if no withholding of Swiss Withholding Tax were required, whereby such further enforcements shall always be limited to the maximum amount of the freely distributable reserves of such Swiss Credit Party as set out in paragraph (a) above.
(d) If and to the extent requested by the Common Collateral Agent and if and to the extent this is from time to time required under Swiss law (restricting profit distributions), in order to allow the Common Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties to obtain a maximum benefit under this Agreement or any other Credit Document, as applicable, the relevant Swiss Credit Party shall, and any parent company of such Swiss Credit Party being a party to this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall procure that such Swiss Credit Party will, promptly implement all such measures and/or to promptly procure the fulfilment of all prerequisites allowing the prompt fulfilment of the Swiss Credit Party’s obligations and allowing the relevant Swiss Credit Party to promptly perform its obligations and make the (requested) payment(s) hereunder from time to time, including the following:
(1) preparation of an up-to-date audited balance sheet of the relevant Swiss Credit Party;
(2) confirmation of the auditors of the relevant Swiss Credit Party that the relevant amount represents (the maximum of) freely distributable capital of such Swiss Credit Party;
(3) approval by a shareholders meeting of the relevant Swiss Credit Party of the capital distribution;
(4) if the enforcement of Restricted Obligations would be limited due to the effects referred to in this clause, then the relevant Swiss Credit Party shall to the extent permitted by applicable law write up or realize any of its assets that are shown in its balance sheet with a book value that is significantly lower than the market value of the assets, in case of realization, however, only if such assets are not necessary for the relevant Swiss Credit Party’s business (nicht betriebsnotwendig); and
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(5) all such other measures necessary or useful to allow payment under the Swiss Credit Party’s obligations and to allow the relevant Swiss Credit Party to make the payments and perform the obligations agreed hereunder with a minimum of limitations.
Section 7.22 The Collateral Agents.
(a) The First-Out Notes Collateral Agent is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as notes collateral agent under First-Out Notes Indenture. The First-Out Notes Collateral Agent shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to this Agreement, the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the First-Out Note Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing contained in this Agreement shall require the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent to exercise any discretionary acts, and any provision of this Agreement that authorizes or permits the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent to consent to, disapprove, request, determine, waive, act or decline to act, in its discretion shall be subject to the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent receiving direction from the requisite holders of First-Out Notes pursuant to the First-Out Notes Indenture.
(b) The Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent is executing and delivering this Agreement solely in its capacity as notes collateral agent under Second-Out Notes Indenture. The Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent shall have no duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to this Agreement, the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the Second-Out Note Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing contained in this Agreement shall require the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent to exercise any discretionary acts, and any provision of this Agreement that authorizes or permits the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent to consent to, disapprove, request, determine, waive, act or decline to act, in its discretion shall be subject to the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent receiving direction from the requisite holders of Second-Out Notes pursuant to the Second-Out Notes Indenture.
(c) No Collateral Agent shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Collateral Agent, or for any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms of this Agreement. No Collateral Agent shall be responsible for or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the ABL Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the ABL Secured Parties, and each Notes Collateral Agent, for and on behalf of itself and the applicable Notes Claimholders, have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
| ACF FINCO I LP, in its capacity as the ABL Agent | |
|---|---|
| By: /s/ Ryan T. Mass | |
| Name: Ryan T. Mass | |
| Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement]
| Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as the First-Out Notes Collateral Agent | |
|---|---|
| By: /s/ Jane Schweiger | |
| Name: Jane Schweiger | |
| Title: Vice President | |
| Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as the Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent | |
| By: /s/ Jane Schweiger | |
| Name: Jane Schweiger | |
| Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement]
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Each Credit Party hereby acknowledges that it has received a copy of this Agreement as in effect on the date hereof and consents thereto, agrees to recognize all rights granted thereby to the ABL Agent, the Common Collateral Agent, the ABL Secured Parties, each Notes Collateral Agent, and the Notes Claimholders (including pursuant to Section 7.18), and will not do any act or perform any obligation which is not in accordance with the agreements set forth in this Agreement as in effect on the date hereof (and, to the extent any Credit Party receives a copy of any amendment hereto, as amended and in effect from time to time). Each Credit Party further acknowledges and agrees that, it is not an intended beneficiary or third party beneficiary under this Agreement and (i) as between the ABL Secured Parties, the Credit Parties, the ABL Documents remain in full force and effect as written and are in no way modified hereby, and (ii) as between the Notes Claimholders, the Credit Parties, the Notes Documents remain in full force and effect as written and are in no way modified hereby.
Without limiting the foregoing or any rights or remedies the Credit Parties may have, Company and the other Credit Parties consent to the rights granted to the ABL Secured Parties, and the performance by each Notes Collateral Agent of the obligations, set forth in Section 3.6 of this Agreement and acknowledge and agree that neither any Notes Collateral Agent nor any other Notes Claimholder shall ever be accountable or liable for any action taken or omitted by the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party or its or any of their officers, employees, agents successors or assigns in connection therewith or incidental thereto or in consequence thereof, including any improper use or disclosure of any proprietary information or other Intellectual Property by the ABL Agent or any other ABL Secured Party or its or any of their officers, employees, agents, successors or assigns or any other damage to or misuse or loss of any property of the Credit Parties as a result of any action taken or omitted by the ABL Agent or its officers, employees, agents, successors or assigns pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 3.6 of this Agreement.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
| CREDIT PARTIES: | |
|---|---|
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |
| FOSSIL GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: President | |
| FOSSIL CANADA INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer | |
| FOSSIL PARTNERS, L.P.<br> <br><br><br><br>By: Fossil Group, Inc. its General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |
| FOSSIL STORES I, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer | |
| FOSSIL INTERMEDIATE, INC. | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Acknowledgment]
| FOSSIL TRUST, acting pursuant to the Agreement and<br>Contract of Trust of Fossil Trust dated, August 31, 1994, as a U.S. Guarantor |
|---|
| By: |
| FOSSIL (UK) HOLDINGS LIMITED |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL (UK) LIMITED |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL (OPE) GMBH |
| By: |
All values are in Euros.
[Signature Page to Acknowledgment]
| SWISS TECHNOLOGY HOLDING GMBH |
|---|
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL GROUP OPE GMBH |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL OPE B.V. |
| By: |
| By: |
All values are in Euros.
[Signature Page to Acknowledgment]
Exhibit A
[FORM OF] JOINDER AGREEMENT^1^ NO. [__] dated as of [__________], 20[__] to the INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT dated as of November 13, 2025 (the “Intercreditor Agreement”), among ACF FINCO I LP, as ABL Agent under the ABL Credit Agreement and as Controlling Notes Collateral Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as First-Out Notes Collateral Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as Second-Out Notes Collateral Agent, and the Additional Notes Collateral Agents from time to time a party thereto and acknowledged and agreed to by the Credit Parties identified on the signature pages hereto.
A. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Intercreditor Agreement.
B. As a condition to the ability of any Credit Party to incur Additional Notes Debt after the date of the Intercreditor Agreement and to secure such Additional Notes Debt with the Lien and to have such Additional Notes Debt guaranteed by the Credit Parties on a senior basis, in each case under and pursuant to the Notes Collateral Documents, the [collateral agent] in respect of such Additional Notes Debt is required to become an Additional Notes Collateral Agent under, and such Additional Notes Debt and the Notes Claimholders in respect thereof are required to become subject to and bound by, the Intercreditor Agreement. Section 5.2 of the Intercreditor Agreement provides that such collateral agent may become a Notes Collateral Agent under, and such Additional Notes Debt and such Notes Claimholders may become subject to and bound by, Intercreditor Agreement, pursuant to the execution and delivery by the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent (as defined below) of an instrument in the form of this Joinder Agreement and the satisfaction of the other conditions set forth in Section 5.2 of the Intercreditor Agreement. The undersigned collateral agent (the “New Additional Notes Collateral Agent”) is executing this Joinder Agreement in accordance with the requirements of the applicable ABL Documents and the Notes Documents.
Accordingly, the ABL Agent, the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent and the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent agree as follows:
SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 5.2 of the Intercreditor Agreement, the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent by its signature below becomes a Notes Collateral Agent under, and the related Additional Notes Debt and Notes Claimholders become subject to and bound by, the Intercreditor Agreement with the same force and effect as if the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent had originally been named therein as a Notes Collateral Agent, and the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and such Notes Claimholders, hereby agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as a Notes Collateral Agent and to the Notes Claimholders that it represents as Notes Claimholders. Each reference to a “Notes Collateral Agent” or “AdditionalNotes Collateral Agent” in the Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent. The Intercreditor Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. The New Additional Notes Collateral Agent represents and warrants to the ABL Agent, the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties that (i) it has full power and authority to enter into this Joinder Agreement, in its capacity as [agent][trustee] under [describe new Notes Instrument], (ii) this Joinder Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, (iii) the Notes Documents relating to such Additional Notes Debt provide that, upon the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent’s entry into this Joinder Agreement, the Notes Claimholders in respect of such Additional Notes Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as Notes Claimholders and (iv) the applicable Additional Notes Claimholders and the Collateral with respect to such Additional Notes Debt have agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement.
SECTION 3. This Joinder Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Joinder Agreement shall become
^1^ To be updated in connection with the issuance of any Additional Note Debt for which the Initial Note Collateral Agent is acting as Collateral Agent.
effective when the ABL Agent and the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent shall have received a counterpart of this Joinder Agreement that bears the signature of the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Joinder Agreement by facsimile transmission or other electronic method shall be effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Joinder Agreement.
SECTION 4. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 5. THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OFNEW YORK, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.
SECTION 6. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Joinder Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, no party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Intercreditor Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
SECTION 7. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 7.5 of the Intercreditor Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent shall be given to it at the address set forth below its signature hereto.
SECTION 8. The Credit Parties agree to reimburse the ABL Agent and the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent for their respective reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Joinder Agreement, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for the ABL Agent and the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent to the extent required by Section 7.18 of the Intercreditor Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Additional Notes Collateral Agent, the ABL Agent and the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent have duly executed this Joinder Agreement to the Intercreditor Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
[NAME OF NEW ADDITIONAL NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT],
as [__________] for the holders of [__________]
| By:<br> |
|---|
| Name:<br> |
| Title: |
| Address for notices: |
| Attention<br>of: |
| Telecopy: |
| ACF FINCO I LP,<br><br><br>as ABL Agent |
| By:<br> |
| Name: |
| Title: |
[Signature Page to [Form of] Joinder Agreement]
| [__________],<br><br><br>as Controlling Notes Collateral Agent |
|---|
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
[Signature Page to [Form of] Joinder Agreement]
| Acknowledged by: |
|---|
| CREDIT PARTIES: |
| [__________] |
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
| [__________] |
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
| [__________] |
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
[Signature Page to [Form of] Joinder Agreement]
EX-10.2
Exhibit 10.2
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
dated as of November 13, 2025
among
FOSSIL GROUP, INC.,
as the Issuer,
the other Grantors party hereto,
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Senior Representative for the Senior Notes Secured Parties and as Senior Trustee,
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as the Initial Junior Priority Representative and as Junior Trustee,
and
each additional Representative from time to time party hereto
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of November 13, 2025 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof, this “Agreement”), among FOSSIL GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the other Grantors (as defined below) party hereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral agent for the Senior Notes Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Senior Agent”), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral agent for the Initial Junior Priority Debt Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Initial Junior Priority Representative”), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Senior Indenture (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Senior Trustee”), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee under the Junior Priority Indenture (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “Junior Trustee”), and each additional Junior Priority Representative and Senior Representative that from time to time becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.09.
In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Senior Agent (for itself and on behalf of the Senior Notes Secured Parties), the Initial Junior Priority Representative (for itself and on behalf of the Initial Junior Priority Debt Parties), each additional Senior Representative (for itself and on behalf of the Additional Senior Debt Parties under the applicable Additional Senior Debt Facility), the Grantors, and each additional Junior Priority Representative (for itself and on behalf of the Additional Junior Priority Debt Parties under the applicable Additional Junior Priority Debt Facility) agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Senior Indenture as in effect on the date hereof or, if defined in the New York UCC, the meanings specified therein. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
“Additional Junior Priority Debt” means any other Indebtedness of the Issuer or guaranteed by the Guarantors (and not guaranteed by any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor), which Indebtedness and guarantees are secured by the Junior Priority Collateral on a junior priority basis to the Senior Obligations (and which are not secured by Liens on any assets of the Issuer or any other Grantor, other than the Junior Priority Collateral or which are not included in the Senior Collateral unless otherwise declined by the Senior Secured Parties pursuant to Section 2.04(a)); provided, however, that (i) such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, secured and guaranteed on such basis by the then extant Senior Debt Documents and Junior Priority Debt Documents and (ii) the Representative for the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to this Agreement pursuant to, and by satisfying the conditions set forth in, Section 8.09 hereof.
“Additional Junior Priority Debt Documents” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Additional Junior Priority Debt, the promissory notes, indentures, credit agreements, note purchase agreements, the Junior Priority Collateral Documents or other operative agreements evidencing or governing such Indebtedness.
“Additional Junior Priority Debt Facility” means each indenture, credit agreement, note purchase agreement or other governing agreement with respect to any Additional Junior Priority Debt.
“Additional Junior Priority Debt Obligations” means, respect to any other series, issue or class of Additional Junior Priority Debt, (a) all principal of, and interest (including, without limitation, any
interest, fees or expenses and other amounts (if any) which accrue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not allowed or allowable as a claim in any such proceeding) payable with respect to, such Additional Junior Priority Debt and (b) all other amounts payable to the related Additional Junior Priority Debt Parties under the related Additional Junior Priority Debt Documents.
“Additional Junior Priority Debt Parties” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Additional Junior Priority Debt, the holders of such Indebtedness, the Representative with respect thereto, any trustee or agent therefor under any related Additional Junior Priority Debt Documents and the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by the Issuer or any other Grantor under any related Additional Junior Priority Debt Documents
“Additional Senior Debt” means any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness constituting Senior Notes Obligations) that is issued, incurred or guaranteed by the Issuer and/or any Guarantor (and not guaranteed by any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor) which Indebtedness and Guarantees are secured only by the Senior Collateral (and which are not secured by Liens on any assets of the Issuer or any other Grantor other than the Senior Collateral securing the Senior Notes Obligations) on a basis that is senior to the Junior Priority Debt Obligations; provided, however, that (i) such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, secured and guaranteed on such basis by each then extant Senior Debt Document and Junior Priority Debt Document and (ii) the Representative for the holders of such Indebtedness shall have become party to this Agreement pursuant to, and by satisfying the conditions set forth in, Section 8.09 hereof.
“Additional Senior Debt Documents” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Additional Senior Debt, the promissory notes, note purchase agreements, indentures, credit agreement, the Senior Collateral Documents or other operative agreements evidencing or governing such Indebtedness.
“Additional Senior Debt Facility” means each indenture, note purchase agreement, credit agreement or other governing agreement with respect to any Additional Senior Debt.
“Additional Senior Debt Obligations” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Additional Senior Debt, all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants, and duties of, any Grantor arising under any Additional Senior Debt Documents or otherwise with respect to any obligation secured under the Additional Senior Debt Documents and entered into with any of the Grantors, 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, fees and expenses that accrue after the commencement by or against any Grantor of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding under any bankruptcy law naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest, fees or expenses are allowed claims in such proceeding and any renewals, replacements, Refinancings or extensions of the foregoing.
“Additional Senior Debt Parties” means, with respect to any series, issue or class of Additional Senior Debt, the holders of such Indebtedness, the Representative with respect thereto, any trustee or agent therefor under any related Additional Senior Debt Documents and the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by the Issuer or any Guarantor under any related Additional Senior Debt Documents.
“Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.
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“Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state, provincial or foreign law for the relief of debtors.
“Class Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
“Class Debt Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
“Class Debt Representatives” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
“Collateral” means the Senior Collateral and the Junior Priority Collateral.
“Collateral Documents” means the Senior Collateral Documents and the Junior Priority Collateral Documents.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Debt Facility” means any Senior Facility and any Junior Priority Debt Facility.
“Designated Junior Priority Representative” means (i) the Initial Junior Priority Representative until such time as the Junior Priority Debt Facility under the Junior Priority Debt Documents ceases to be the only Junior Priority Debt Facility under this Agreement, (ii) the “Trustee” (or like term) under any Junior Priority Debt Facility that Refinances in full the Indebtedness outstanding under the Junior Priority Indenture, so long as such Junior Priority Debt Facility is the only Junior Priority Debt Facility under this Agreement, and (iii) thereafter, the Junior Priority Representative designated as the “Designated Junior Priority Representative” for purposes hereof from time to time by the Junior Priority Majority Representatives in a written notice to the Designated Senior Representative and the Issuer. The Senior Representative may treat the Initial Junior Priority Representative as Designated Junior Priority Representative until such time as it receives a notice as contemplated by the preceding sentence that the Initial Junior Priority Representative was replaced as Designated Junior Priority Representative.
“Designated Senior Representative” means (i) prior to the Discharge of Senior Notes Obligations, the Senior Agent and (ii) after the Discharge of Senior Notes Obligations, the applicable Senior Representative as may be specified in the applicable intercreditor arrangements among the applicable Senior Facilities.
“DIP Financing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.
“Discharge” means, with respect to any Debt Facility, the date on which the following shall have occurred (i) such Debt Facility and the Senior Obligations or Junior Priority Debt Obligations thereunder, as the case may be, are paid in full in cash (except for contingent indemnities to the extent no claim therefor has been asserted) and are no longer secured by, and no longer required to be secured by, such Shared Collateral pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Debt Facility, (ii) any letters of credit issued under the relevant Debt Facility have terminated or been cash collateralized or backstopped or “grandfathered” under a future credit facility (in the amount and form required under the applicable Debt Facility) and (iii) all commitments to lend or otherwise extend credit under such Debt Facility and the relevant Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents have terminated. The term “Discharged” shall have a corresponding meaning.
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“Discharge of Senior Obligations” means the date on which the Discharge of Senior Notes Obligations and the Discharge of each Additional Senior Debt Facility has occurred.
“Discharge of Senior Notes Obligations” means the date on which the Discharge occurs in respect of the Senior Notes Obligations; provided that the Discharge of Senior Notes Obligations shall not be deemed to have occurred in connection with a Refinancing of such Senior Notes Obligations with an Additional Senior Debt Facility secured by any Shared Collateral under one or more Additional Senior Debt Documents that has been designated in writing by the applicable Senior Representative to the Designated Senior Representative as the “Senior Indenture” for purposes of this Agreement.
“German Grantors” shall mean collectively the Grantors that are incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.
“Grantors” means the Issuer and each Subsidiary of the Issuer which has granted a security interest pursuant to any Collateral Document to secure any Secured Obligations.
“Initial Junior Priority Debt” means the Indebtedness of the Issuer and any other Grantor incurred pursuant to the Initial Junior Priority Debt Documents.
“Initial Junior Priority Debt Documents” means the Junior Priority Indenture and the other “Note Documents” as defined in the Junior Priority Indenture.
“Initial Junior Priority Debt Obligations” means the “Obligations” as defined in the Junior Priority Indenture (or similar term in any Refinancing thereof).
“Initial Junior Priority Debt Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Junior Priority Indenture (or similar term in any Refinancing thereof).
“Initial Junior Priority Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any successor trustee (or similar term in any Refinancing thereof).
“Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding” means:
(1) any case or proceeding commenced by or against the Issuer or any other Grantor under any Bankruptcy Law, any other proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Issuer or any other Grantor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of creditors relating to the Issuer or any other Grantor or any similar case or proceeding relative to the Issuer or any other Grantor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not voluntary;
(2) any liquidation, dissolution, marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or relating to the Issuer or any other Grantor, in each case whether or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or insolvency;
(3) any other proceeding of any type or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the Issuer or any other Grantor are determined and any payment or distribution is or may be made on account of such claims; or
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(4) any proceeding seeking the appointment of any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other insolvency official with similar powers with respect to any Grantor or any of its assets.
“Intellectual Property” means (a) all intellectual property of every kind and nature, including that which is now owned or hereafter owned or acquired by any Grantor, including Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Licenses, trade secrets, the intellectual property rights in software and databases and related documentation, all registrations and recordations and all applications in connection therewith and all renewals and extensions thereof, (b) all rights to sue or otherwise recover for any past, present and future infringements, misappropriation, dilution, or other violations of the foregoing, (c) all Proceeds of the foregoing, and (d) all other rights corresponding thereto throughout the world.
“Issuer” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Joinder Agreement” means a supplement to this Agreement substantially in the form of Annex II or Annex III hereof required to be delivered by a Representative to the Designated Senior Representative and the Designated Junior Priority Representative, as applicable, pursuant to Section 8.09 hereof in order to include an additional Debt Facility hereunder and to become the Representative hereunder for the Senior Secured Parties or Junior Priority Debt Parties, as the case may be, under such Debt Facility.
“Junior Priority Class Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
“Junior Priority Class Debt Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
“Junior Priority Class Debt Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
“Junior Priority Collateral” means any “Collateral” as defined in any Junior Priority Debt Document or any other assets of the Issuer or any other Grantor with respect to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted pursuant to a Junior Priority Collateral Document as security for any Junior Priority Debt Obligation.
“Junior Priority Collateral Documents” means the Collateral Documents (or similar term in any Refinancing thereof) as defined in the Junior Priority Indenture and each of the other collateral agreements, security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by the Issuer or any other Grantor for purposes of providing collateral security for any Junior Priority Debt Obligation.
“Junior Priority Indenture” means that certain Senior Secured Notes Indenture, dated as of November 13, 2025, among the Issuer, the Junior Trustee, the Initial Junior Priority Representative, and certain other parties party thereto (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time or refunded, Refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased or extended from time to time (whether in whole or in part, whether with the original trustee and holders or other trustee and holders or otherwise, and whether provided under the original Junior Priority Indenture or one or more other indentures or otherwise, including any agreement extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness thereunder or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof, in each case as and to the extent permitted by the Junior Priority Indenture, unless such agreement, instrument or document expressly provides that it is not intended to be and is not a “Junior Priority Indenture” for purposes of this Agreement)).
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“Junior Priority Debt” means (a) the Initial Junior Priority Debt and (b) any Additional Junior Priority Debt.
“Junior Priority Debt Documents” means (a) the Initial Junior Priority Debt Documents and (b) any Additional Junior Priority Debt Documents.
“Junior Priority Debt Facility” means (a) the Junior Priority Indenture and (b) any Additional Junior Priority Debt Facilities.
“Junior Priority Debt Obligations” means the (a) Initial Junior Priority Debt Obligations and (b) any Additional Junior Priority Debt Obligations.
“Junior Priority Debt Parties” means (a) the Initial Junior Priority Debt Parties and (b) any Additional Junior Priority Debt Parties.
“Junior Priority Lien” means the Liens on the Junior Priority Collateral in favor of Junior Priority Debt Parties under the Junior Priority Collateral Documents.
“Junior Priority Majority Representatives” means Junior Priority Representatives representing at least a majority of the then aggregate principal amount of Junior Priority Debt Obligations.
“Junior Priority Representative” means (a) in the case of the Initial Junior Priority Debt Obligations, the Initial Junior Priority Representative and the Junior Trustee and (b) in the case of any other Junior Priority Debt Facilities and the Junior Priority Debt Parties thereunder, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under such Junior Priority Debt Facility that is named as the representative in respect of such Junior Priority Debt Facility in the applicable Joinder Agreement (or otherwise designated in accordance with the terms hereof).
“Junior Trustee” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“New York UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.
“Non-Payment Default” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b).
“Payment Blockage Notice” has the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b).
“Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Interest Payments” means (a) all regularly scheduled cash payments of interest on the Junior Priority Debt Obligations by the Issuer pursuant to the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents as in effect on the date hereof or as modified in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (b) the cash payment of interest in connection with the optional redemption, prepayment or refinancing of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations (in each case of clauses (a) and (b), to the extent permitted by the Senior Indenture).
“Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Payments” means (a) Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Principal Payments, (b) Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Interest Payments, (c) reimbursement or payment of reasonable and documented costs, expenses (including legal fees) and indemnities, due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents as in effect on the date hereof or as modified in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (d) accrual (and not payment in cash) of default interest in accordance with the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents
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as in effect on the date hereof or as modified in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (e) any payment of paid-in-kind interest pursuant to the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents and the accrual or capitalization of interest, fees or other amounts, whether pursuant to the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents or in lieu of cash payments that otherwise were prohibited under the terms of this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any cash payment made in respect of any such accrued or capitalized interest or any other cash payment), and (f) Reorganization Subordinated Securities.
“Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Principal Payments” means (a) regularly scheduled cash payments of principal on the Junior Priority Debt Obligations by the Issuer, (b) the repayment of the entire amount of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations at the stated final maturity of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations (in each case of clauses (a) and (b), pursuant to the terms of the Junior Priority Debt Documents as in effect on the date hereof or as modified in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), and (c) payments to effect an optional redemption, prepayment or refinancing of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations (in each case of clauses (a) through (c), to the extent permitted by the Senior Indenture).
“Pledged or Controlled Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.05(a).
“Proceeds” means the proceeds of (a) any sale, lease, license, exchange, disposition, collection or other liquidation of Shared Collateral, (b) any payment or distribution made in respect of Shared Collateral (including any payment or distribution in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), (c) rights arising out of the loss, nonconformity or interference with the use of, defects or infringements of rights in, or damage to, the Shared Collateral, (d) rights arising out of the Shared Collateral, and (e) any amounts received by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party from a Junior Priority Debt Party in respect of Shared Collateral pursuant to this Agreement.
“Recovery” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.
“Refinance” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, defease, amend, increase, modify, supplement, restructure, refund, replace or repay such Indebtedness, or to issue other Indebtedness or enter into alternative financing arrangements, in exchange or replacement for such Indebtedness (in whole or in part), including by adding or replacing lenders, creditors, agents, borrowers and/or guarantors, and, in each case, including, but not limited to, after the original instrument giving rise to such Indebtedness has been terminated and including, in each case, through any note purchase agreement, credit agreement, indenture or other agreement. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing” have correlative meanings.
“Release” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01(a).
“Reorganization Senior Securities” means any notes or other debt or equity securities issued in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of all or any portion of the Senior Obligations.
“Reorganization Subordinated Securities” means any notes or other debt or equity securities issued in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of all or any portion of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations pursuant to a confirmed plan of reorganization and that are (a) subordinated in right of payment and in all other respects to all Senior Obligations and any Reorganization Senior Securities at least to the same extent that the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are subordinated to Senior Obligations pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (b) do not have the benefit of any obligation of any Person (whether as issuer, guarantor or otherwise) unless all Senior Obligations and Reorganization Senior Securities have at least the same benefit of the obligation of such Person, and (c) do not have any terms, and are not subject to or entitled to the benefit of any agreement or instrument that has terms, that are more burdensome to the
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issuer or other obligor thereunder than the terms contained in the Senior Debt Documents or Reorganization Senior Securities.
“Replacement Senior Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.08.
“Representatives” means the Senior Representatives and the Junior Priority Representatives.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor thereto.
“Secured Obligations” means the Senior Obligations and the Junior Priority Debt Obligations.
“Secured Parties” means the Senior Secured Parties and the Junior Priority Debt Parties.
“Senior Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any successor trustee as provided in Section 7.09 of the Senior Indenture; provided, however, that if the Senior Indenture is Refinanced, then all references herein to the Senior Agent shall refer to the trustee (or administrative agent or similar term) under the Senior Indenture so Refinanced.
“Senior Class Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
“Senior Class Debt Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
“Senior Class Debt Representative” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
“Senior Collateral” means any “Collateral” (or any equivalent term) as defined in any Senior Debt Document or any other assets of the Issuer or any other Grantor with respect to which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted pursuant to a Senior Collateral Document as security for any Senior Obligations.
“Senior Collateral Documents” means the “Collateral Documents” as defined in the Senior Indenture (or any similar term in any Refinancing thereof) and any accessions, supplements or joinders thereto and each of the collateral agreements, security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by the Issuer or any other Grantor for purposes of providing collateral security for any Senior Obligation.
“Senior Debt Documents” means (i) the Senior Indenture and the other “Note Documents” as defined in the Senior Indenture (or similar term in any Refinancing thereof) and (ii) any Additional Senior Debt Documents.
“Senior Facilities” means the Senior Indenture and any Additional Senior Debt Facilities.
“Senior Indenture” means that certain Senior Secured Notes Indenture, dated as of November 13, 2025 among the Issuer, the Senior Agent, the Senior Trustee, and the other parties party thereto (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time or refunded, Refinanced, restructured, replaced, renewed, repaid, increased or extended from time to time (whether in whole or in part, whether with the original Senior Agent and holders or other agents and holders or otherwise, and whether provided under the original Senior Indenture or one or more other indentures, note purchase agreements, credit agreements or otherwise,
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including any agreement extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness thereunder or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof, in each case, as and to the extent permitted by the Senior Indenture, unless such agreement, instrument or document expressly provides that it is not intended to be and is not a Senior Indenture for purposes of this Agreement)).
“Senior Lien” means the Liens on the Senior Collateral in favor of the Senior Secured Parties under the Senior Collateral Documents.
“Senior Notes Obligations” means the “Obligations” as defined in the Senior Indenture (or similar term in any Refinancing thereof).
“Senior Notes Secured Parties” means the “Secured Parties” as defined in the Senior Indenture (or similar term in any Refinancing thereof).
“Senior Obligations” means the Senior Notes Obligations and any Additional Senior Debt Obligations, including, without limitation, any “Senior Obligations” set forth in Section 5.03(a).
“Senior Payment Default” means a default or event of default under any Senior Debt Document resulting from the failure of any Grantor to pay any principal, interest, fees, or any other amount due and payable under the Senior Debt Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any default or event of default under Section 6.01(a)(1) or 6.01(a)(2) of the Senior Indenture).
“Senior Representative” means (i) in the case of any Senior Notes Obligations or the Senior Notes Secured Parties, the Senior Trustee and the Senior Agent and (ii) in the case of any Additional Senior Debt Facility and the Additional Senior Debt Parties thereunder (including with respect to any Additional Senior Debt Facility initially covered hereby on the date of this Agreement), the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under such Additional Senior Debt Facility that is named as the Representative in respect of such Additional Senior Debt Facility hereunder or in the applicable Joinder Agreement.
“Senior Secured Parties” means the Senior Notes Secured Parties and any Additional Senior Debt Parties.
“Senior Trustee” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Shared Collateral” means, at any time, Collateral in which the holders of Senior Obligations under at least one Senior Facility and the holders of Junior Priority Debt Obligations under at least one Junior Priority Debt Facility (or their Representatives) hold a security interest at such time (or, in the case of the Senior Facilities, are deemed pursuant to Article II to hold a security interest).
“Swiss Grantor” means any Grantor incorporated and organized under the laws of Switzerland or which is considered to be tax resident in Switzerland for Swiss Withholding Tax purposes.
“Swiss Withholding Tax” shall mean taxes imposed under the Swiss Withholding Tax Act.
“Swiss Withholding Tax Act” shall mean the Swiss Federal Act on the Withholding Tax of 13 October 1965 (Bundesgesetz über die Verrechnungssteuer), together with the related ordinances, regulations and guidelines, all as amended and applicable from time to time.
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“Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided, however, that if a term is defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code differently than in another Article thereof, the term shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9; provided, further, that, if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, perfection, or the effect of perfection or non-perfection, of a security interest in any Collateral or the availability of any remedy hereunder is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than New York, “UCC” or “Uniform Commercial Code” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction from time to time for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or effect of perfection or non-perfection or availability of such remedy, as the case may be.
SECTION 1.02. Interpretive Provision. The interpretive provisions contained in Article I of the Senior Indenture are incorporated herein, mutatis mutandis, as if a part hereof.
ARTICLE II
Priorities and Agreements with Respect to Shared Collateral
SECTION 2.01. Subordination.
(a) Notwithstanding the date, time, manner or order of filing or recordation of any document or instrument or grant, attachment or perfection of any Liens granted to any Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Parties on the Shared Collateral or of any Liens granted to any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party on the Shared Collateral (or any actual or alleged defect in any of the foregoing) and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC, any applicable law, any Junior Priority Debt Document or any Senior Debt Document or any other circumstance whatsoever, each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby agrees that (a) any Lien on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Senior Obligations now or hereafter held by or on behalf of any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party or other agent or trustee therefor, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall have priority over and be senior in all respects and prior to any Lien on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Junior Priority Debt Obligations and (b) any Lien on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Junior Priority Debt Obligations now or hereafter held by or on behalf of any Junior Priority Representative, any Junior Priority Debt Parties or any Junior Priority Representative or other agent or trustee therefor, regardless of how acquired, whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be junior and subordinate in all respects to all Liens on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Senior Obligations. All Liens on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Senior Obligations shall be and remain senior in all respects and prior to all Liens on the Shared Collateral securing or purporting to secure any Junior Priority Debt Obligations for all purposes, whether or not such Liens securing or purporting to secure any Senior Obligations are subordinated to any Lien securing any other obligation of the Issuer, any Grantor or any other Person or otherwise subordinated, voided, avoided, invalidated or lapsed.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the Junior Priority Debt Documents to the contrary and in addition to any other limitations set forth herein or therein, (i) except for Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Payments to the extent and in the manner set forth herein, (x) all Junior Priority Debt Obligations are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all Senior Obligations, such that the Senior Secured Parties shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of the amounts constituting the Senior Obligations before any Junior Priority Debt Party is entitled to receive any payment or other distribution on account of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations and (y) no Grantor may make, and no Junior
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Priority Debt Party may receive, any payment (whether made in cash, securities or other property or by set-off, recoupment, redemption, purchase or acquisition of indebtedness or any other similar rights) of principal, interest or any other amount with respect to the Junior Priority Debt Obligations, and no Junior Priority Debt Party shall exercise any right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any Junior Priority Debt Obligations, until the Discharge of Senior Obligations, (ii) no Grantor may make, and no Junior Priority Debt Party may receive, any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Principal Payment or Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Interest Payment if, at the time of such payment or immediately after giving effect thereto (a) a Senior Payment Default exists, (b) the maturity of the Senior Obligations has been accelerated due to the occurrence of an event of default in accordance with the terms of the Senior Debt Documents or (c) any other default (a “Non-Payment Default”) occurs and is continuing under any Senior Debt Document that permits the Senior Secured Parties to accelerate the maturity of the Senior Obligations and the Issuer receives a notice of such default (a “Payment Blockage Notice”) from the Senior Representative and (iii) until the Discharge of Senior Obligations, if any payment (whether made in cash, securities or other property or by set-off, recoupment, redemption, purchase or acquisition of indebtedness or any other similar rights) of principal, interest or any other amount with respect to the Junior Priority Debt Obligations is made in contravention of this Agreement, then such payment or distribution shall be held by the Junior Priority Debt Party in trust for the benefit of, and shall be promptly paid over or delivered to, the Designated Senior Representative for the benefit of Senior Secured Parties for application to the Senior Obligations.
(c) The Grantors may resume making Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Principal Payments and Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Interest Payments (and may make any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Principal Payments or Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Interest Payments missed due to the application of this Section 2.01) in respect of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations or any judgment with respect thereto: (i) in the case of a Senior Payment Default, upon the earlier to occur of (x) a cure or waiver (as evidenced by a written waiver or acknowledgement of cure, as applicable, from the holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (as defined in the Senior Indenture) to the Senior Trustee and provided to the Issuer) of all Senior Payment Defaults in accordance with the terms of the Senior Debt Documents or (y) the occurrence of the Discharge of Senior Obligations or (ii) in the case of a Non-Payment Default, upon the earliest to occur of (x) the cure or waiver (as evidenced by a written waiver or acknowledgement of cure, as applicable, from the holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes (as defined in the Senior Indenture) to the Senior Trustee and provided to the Issuer) thereof in accordance with the terms of the Senior Debt Documents, (y) the date the Issuer receives a notice from the Senior Representative rescinding the Payment Blockage Notice, or (z) the occurrence of the Discharge of Senior Obligations.
SECTION 2.02. Nature of Senior Lender Claims. Each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, acknowledges that (a) a portion of the Senior Obligations may be revolving in nature and that the amount thereof that may be outstanding at any time or from time to time may be increased or reduced and subsequently reborrowed, (b) the terms of the Senior Debt Documents and the Senior Obligations may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, and the Senior Obligations, or a portion thereof, may be Refinanced from time to time and (c) the aggregate amount of the Senior Obligations may be increased, in each case, without notice to or consent by any Junior Priority Representatives or any Junior Priority Debt Parties and without affecting the provisions hereof. The Lien priorities provided for in Section 2.01 shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, restatement, amendment and restatement, supplement or other modification, or any Refinancing, of either the Senior Obligations or the Junior Priority Debt Obligations, or any portion thereof. As between the Issuer and the other Grantors and the Junior Priority Debt Parties, the foregoing provisions will not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Issuer and the Grantors contained in any Junior Priority Debt Document with respect to the incurrence of additional Senior Obligations.
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SECTION 2.03. Prohibition on Contesting Liens. Each of the Junior Priority Representatives, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that it shall not (and hereby waives any right to) contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the validity, extent, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Lien securing, or the allowability or value of any claims asserted with respect to, any Senior Obligations held (or purported to be held) by or on behalf of any Senior Representative or any of the other Senior Secured Parties or other agent or trustee therefor in any Senior Collateral, and each Senior Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Senior Secured Party under its Senior Facility, agrees that it shall not (and hereby waives any right to) contest or support any other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), the validity, extent, perfection, priority or enforceability of any Lien securing, or the allowability or value of any claims asserted with respect to, any Junior Priority Debt Obligations held (or purported to be held) by or on behalf of any of any Junior Priority Representative or any of the Junior Priority Debt Parties in the Junior Priority Collateral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of any Senior Representative to enforce this Agreement (including the priority of the Liens securing the Senior Obligations as provided in Section 2.01) or any of the Senior Debt Documents.
SECTION 2.04. No New Liens.
(a) Subject to the terms hereof, the parties hereto agree that, so long as the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, (i) none of the Grantors shall grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset or property of any Grantor to secure any Junior Priority Debt Obligation unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith grants, a Lien on such asset or property of such Grantor to secure the Senior Obligations (unless each Senior Representative (as directed by holders of the Notes (as defined in the Senior Indenture) pursuant to the terms of the Senior Indenture) has declined such grant in writing (including via email) on behalf of the applicable Senior Secured Parties) and (ii) if any Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party shall hold any Lien on any assets or property of any Grantor securing any Junior Priority Debt Obligations that are not also subject to the first-priority Liens securing all Senior Obligations under the Senior Collateral Documents, such Junior Priority Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party (x) shall notify in writing the Designated Senior Representative promptly upon becoming aware thereof and, unless each Senior Representative (as directed by holders of the Notes (as defined in the Senior Indenture) pursuant to the terms of the Senior Indenture) has declined such grant in writing (including via email) on behalf of the applicable Senior Secured Parties, such Grantor shall promptly grant a similar Lien on such assets or property to each Senior Representative as security for the Senior Obligations, and such Junior Priority Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party shall assign such Lien to the Designated Senior Representative as security for all Senior Obligations for the benefit of the Senior Secured Parties (but may retain a junior lien on such assets or property subject to the terms hereof) and (y) until such assignment or such grant of a similar Lien to each Senior Representative, shall be deemed to also hold and have held such Lien for the benefit of each Senior Representative and the other Senior Secured Parties as security for the Senior Obligations, subject to the Lien priorities set forth in this Agreement. To the extent that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence are not complied with for any reason, without limiting any other right or remedy available to any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party, each Junior Priority Representative agrees, for itself and on behalf of the other Junior Priority Debt Parties, that any amounts received by or distributed to any Junior Priority Debt Party pursuant to or as a result of any Lien granted in contravention of this Section 2.04 shall be subject to Section 4.01 and Section 4.02.
(b) The existence of a maximum claim with respect to any real property subject to a mortgage, which applies to all Secured Obligations, shall not be deemed to be a difference in Collateral among any series, issue or class of Senior Obligations or Junior Priority Debt Obligations.
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SECTION 2.05. Perfection of Liens. Except for the limited agreements of the Senior Representatives expressly set forth in Section 5.05 hereof, none of the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties shall be responsible for perfecting and maintaining the perfection of Liens with respect to the Shared Collateral for the benefit of the Junior Priority Representatives or the Junior Priority Debt Parties. The provisions of this Agreement are intended solely to govern the respective Lien priorities as between the Senior Secured Parties and the Junior Priority Debt Parties and shall not impose on the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Priority Representatives, the Junior Priority Debt Parties or any agent or trustee therefor any obligations in respect of the disposition of Proceeds of any Shared Collateral which would conflict with prior perfected claims therein in favor of any other Person or any order or decree of any court or governmental authority or any applicable law.
ARTICLE III
Enforcement
SECTION 3.01. Exercise of Remedies.
(a) So long as the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Issuer or any other Grantor, (i) neither any Junior Priority Representative nor any Junior Priority Debt Party will (w) file or commence any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding against the Issuer or any other Grantor, (x) exercise or seek to exercise any rights or remedies (including setoff or recoupment) with respect to any Shared Collateral in respect of any Junior Priority Debt Obligations or otherwise commence, or join with any Person (other than the Senior Secured Parties and the Senior Representatives upon the request of the Designated Senior Representative) in commencing, any action or proceeding with respect to such rights or remedies (including any enforcement, collection, execution, levy or foreclosure action or proceeding, with respect to any Lien held by it on the Shared Collateral under any of the Junior Priority Debt Documents or otherwise in respect of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations), (y) contest, protest or object to any foreclosure proceeding or action brought with respect to the Shared Collateral or any other Senior Collateral by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party in respect of the Senior Obligations, the exercise of any right by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party (or any agent or sub-agent on their behalf) in respect of the Senior Obligations under any lockbox agreement, control agreement, landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or similar agreement or arrangement to which any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party either is a party or may have rights as a third party beneficiary, or any other exercise by any such party of any rights and remedies relating to the Shared Collateral under the Senior Debt Documents or otherwise in respect of the Senior Collateral or the Senior Obligations, or (z) object to the forbearance by the Senior Secured Parties from bringing or pursuing any foreclosure proceeding or action or any other exercise of any rights or remedies relating to the Shared Collateral in respect of Senior Obligations and (ii) except as otherwise provided herein, the Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties shall have the exclusive right to enforce rights, exercise remedies (including setoff or recoupment and the right to credit bid their debt) and make determinations regarding the release, disposition or restrictions with respect to the Shared Collateral without any consultation with or the consent of any Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party; provided, however, that (A) in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding commenced by or against the Issuer or any other Grantor, any Junior Priority Representative may file a claim, proof of claim or statement of interest with respect to the Junior Priority Debt Obligations under its Junior Priority Debt Facility and (B) any Junior Priority Representative may take any action (not adverse to the prior Liens on the Shared Collateral securing the Senior Obligations or the rights of the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties to exercise remedies in respect thereof) in order to create, prove, perfect, preserve or protect (but not enforce) its rights in, and perfection and priority of its Lien on, the Shared Collateral (in each case of clauses (A) and (B) above, solely to the extent such action is not in violation of, or otherwise inconsistent with, any other provision of this Agreement or contrary to the Lien
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priorities set forth in this Agreement). In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Senior Collateral, the Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties may enforce the provisions of the Senior Debt Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as they may determine in the exercise of their sole discretion. Such exercise and enforcement shall include the rights of an agent appointed by them to sell or otherwise dispose of Shared Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with such sale or disposition and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured lender under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction and of a secured creditor under Bankruptcy Laws of any applicable jurisdiction.
(b) So long as the Discharge of Senior Obligations has not occurred, each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that it will not take or receive any Shared Collateral or any Proceeds of Shared Collateral in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including setoff or recoupment) with respect to any Shared Collateral in respect of Junior Priority Debt Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless and until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, except as expressly provided in the proviso in clause (ii) of Section 3.01(a), the sole right of the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties with respect to the Shared Collateral is to hold a Lien on the Shared Collateral in respect of Junior Priority Debt Obligations pursuant to the Junior Priority Debt Documents for the period and to the extent granted therein and to receive a share of the Proceeds thereof, if any, after the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred.
(c) Subject to the proviso in clause (ii) of Section 3.01(a), (i) each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that neither such Junior Priority Representative nor any such Junior Priority Debt Party will take any action that would hinder, interfere with, or delay any exercise of remedies undertaken by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party with respect to the Shared Collateral under the Senior Debt Documents, including any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition of the Shared Collateral, whether by foreclosure or otherwise, and (ii) each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby waives any and all rights it or any such Junior Priority Debt Party may have as a junior lien creditor or otherwise to object to the manner in which the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties seek to enforce or collect the Senior Obligations or the Liens granted on any of the Senior Collateral, regardless of whether any action or failure to act by or on behalf of any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party is adverse to the interests of the Junior Priority Debt Parties.
(d) Each Junior Priority Representative hereby acknowledges and agrees that no covenant, agreement or restriction contained in any Junior Priority Debt Document shall be deemed to restrict in any way the rights and remedies of the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties with respect to the Senior Collateral as set forth in this Agreement and the Senior Debt Documents.
(e) Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations, the Designated Senior Representative (or any Person authorized by it) (in the case of the Senior Agent, acting at the direction of the Required Noteholders (as defined in the Senior Indenture)) shall have the exclusive right to exercise any right or remedy with respect to the Shared Collateral and shall have the exclusive right to determine and direct the time, method and place for exercising such right or remedy or conducting any proceeding with respect thereto. Following the Discharge of Senior Obligations, the Designated Junior Priority Representative (or any Person authorized by it) who may be instructed by the Junior Priority Majority Representatives shall have the exclusive right to exercise any right or remedy with respect to the Collateral, and the Designated Junior Priority Representative (or any Person authorized by it) who may be instructed by the Junior Priority Majority Representatives shall have the exclusive right to direct the time, method and place of exercising or conducting any proceeding for the exercise of any right or remedy available to the Junior Priority Debt
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SECTION 4.02. Payments Over. Unless and until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred and regardless of whether an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced, any Shared Collateral or Proceeds thereof or other distributions on account of the Junior Priority Debt or any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities on account of the Junior Priority Debt (other than Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness Payments as permitted herein) received by any Junior Priority Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy (including setoff or recoupment) relating to the Shared Collateral, (except as otherwise set forth in Article VI) in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding (including any distributions received by the Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party) or otherwise in contravention of this Agreement (including Sections 2.01(b) and (c)) shall be segregated and held in trust for the benefit of and forthwith paid over to the Designated Senior Representative for the benefit of the Senior Secured Parties in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The Designated Senior Representative is hereby authorized to make any such endorsements as agent for each of the Junior Priority Representatives or any such Junior Priority Debt Party. This authorization is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable.
ARTICLE V
Other Agreements
SECTION 5.01. Releases.
(a) Each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that (i) (x) if in connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition or release of any Shared Collateral by any Grantor (other than in connection with any enforcement or exercise of rights or remedies with respect to the Shared Collateral which shall be governed by clause (ii)) not prohibited under the terms of the Senior Debt Documents or consented to by the holders of Senior Obligations under the Senior Debt Documents (other than in connection with the Discharge of Senior Obligations) or (y) if the Senior Liens on any Shared Collateral have been or are being otherwise released by the Designated Senior Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Senior Secured Parties, in connection with a Subsidiary that is released from its guarantee under the Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents (in each case, pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents) or (ii) if in connection with the enforcement or exercise of any rights or remedies with respect to the Shared Collateral, including any sale, transfer or other disposition of Collateral, the Designated Senior Representative, for itself and on behalf of the other Senior Secured Parties releases any of the Senior Liens on the Shared Collateral (a “Release”), then the Liens on such Shared Collateral securing any Junior Priority Debt Obligations shall (whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding is pending at such time) be automatically, unconditionally and simultaneously released without further action, and each Junior Priority Representative shall, for itself and on behalf of the other applicable Junior Priority Class Debt Parties, promptly execute and deliver to the Designated Senior Representative and the applicable Grantors such termination statements, releases and other documents as the Designated Senior Representative or any applicable Grantor may reasonably request and the applicable Grantor prepares to effectively confirm such Release. Similarly, if the equity interests of any Person are foreclosed upon or otherwise disposed of or released pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above and in connection therewith the Designated Senior Representative releases the Senior Liens on the property or assets of such Person or releases such Person from its guarantee of Senior Obligations, then the Junior Priority Lien on such property or assets of such Person and such Person’s guarantee of Junior Priority Debt Obligations shall be automatically released to the same extent. Nothing in this Section 5.01(a) will be deemed to affect any agreement of a Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of the Junior Priority Debt Parties under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, to release the Liens on the Junior Priority Collateral as set forth in the relevant Junior Priority Debt Documents.
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(b) Each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints (without obligating) the Designated Senior Representative and any officer or agent of the Designated Senior Representative, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Junior Priority Representative or such Junior Priority Debt Party or in the Designated Senior Representative’s own name, from time to time in the Designated Senior Representative’s discretion, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of Section 5.01(a), to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments that may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of Section 5.01(a), including any termination statements, endorsements or other instruments of transfer or release. Subject to the applicable terms and provisions of the Senior Debt Documents to which it is a party, the Designated Senior Representative hereby agrees to take action reasonably requested by the Grantors to carry out the terms of this Section 5.01(b) or to accomplish the purposes of Section 5.01(a).
(c) Unless and until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby consents to the application, whether prior to or after an Event of Default (as defined in any Senior Debt Document), of Proceeds of Shared Collateral to the repayment of Senior Obligations pursuant to the Senior Debt Documents; provided that nothing in this Section 5.01(c) shall be construed to prevent or impair the rights of the Junior Priority Representatives or the Junior Priority Debt Parties to receive Proceeds in connection with the Junior Priority Debt Obligations not otherwise in contravention of this Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Junior Priority Collateral Document, in the event that the terms of a Senior Collateral Document and a Junior Priority Collateral Document each require any Grantor to (i) make payment in respect of any item of Shared Collateral, (ii) deliver or afford control over any item of Shared Collateral to, or deposit any item of Shared Collateral with, (iii) register ownership of any item of Shared Collateral in the name of or make an assignment of ownership of any Shared Collateral or the rights thereunder to, (iv) cause any securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other Person acting in a similar capacity to agree to comply, in respect of any item of Shared Collateral, with instructions or orders from, or to treat, in respect of any item of Shared Collateral, as the entitlement holder, (v) hold any item of Shared Collateral in trust for (to the extent such item of Shared Collateral cannot be held in trust for multiple parties under applicable law), (vi) obtain the agreement of a bailee or other third party to hold any item of Shared Collateral for the benefit of or subject to the control of or, in respect of any item of Shared Collateral, to follow the instructions of or (vii) obtain the agreement of a landlord with respect to access to leased premises where any item of Shared Collateral is located or waivers or subordination of rights with respect to any item of Shared Collateral in favor of, in any case, both the Designated Senior Representative and any Junior Priority Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party, such Grantor may, until the applicable Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, comply with such requirement under the Junior Priority Collateral Document as it relates to such Shared Collateral by taking any of the actions set forth above only with respect to, or in favor of, the Designated Senior Representative; provided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any action or compliance with respect to the foregoing by any Grantor shall not cause a default or event of default to exist under any Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Document.
SECTION 5.02. Insurance and Condemnation Awards. Unless and until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, the Designated Senior Representative and the Senior Secured Parties shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Grantors under the Senior Debt Documents, (a) to adjust settlement for any insurance policy covering the Shared Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and (b) to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding affecting the Shared Collateral, in each case, in accordance with the Senior Debt Documents. Unless and
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until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, all Proceeds of any such policy and any such award in respect of the Shared Collateral shall be paid (i) first, prior to the occurrence of the Discharge of Senior Obligations, to the Designated Senior Representative for the benefit of Senior Secured Parties pursuant to the terms of the Senior Debt Documents and/or, if permitted to be paid to the Junior Priority Debt Parties under the Senior Debt Documents (as in effect on the date hereof or as amended in accordance with the terms hereof), to the Junior Priority Debt Parties, (ii) second, after the occurrence of the Discharge of Senior Obligations, to the Designated Junior Priority Representative for the benefit of the Junior Priority Debt Parties pursuant to the terms of the applicable Junior Priority Debt Documents, and (iii) third, after the occurrence of the Discharge of Senior Obligations, if no Junior Priority Debt Obligations are outstanding (other than unasserted contingent indemnification obligations and expense reimbursement obligations or if permitted to be paid to such owner under the Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents), to the owner of the subject property, such other Person as may be entitled thereto or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. If any Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party shall, at any time, receive any Proceeds of any such insurance policy or any such award in contravention of this Agreement, it shall pay such Proceeds over to the Designated Senior Representative in accordance with the terms of Section 4.02.
SECTION 5.03. Amendments to Debt Documents.
(a) The Senior Debt Documents may be amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with their terms, and the Senior Obligations may be Refinanced or replaced, in whole or in part, in each case, without the consent of any Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided, however, that, without the consent of the Designated Junior Priority Representatives, no such amendment, restatement, supplement, modification or Refinancing (or successive amendments, restatements, supplements, modifications or Refinancings) shall contravene any provision of this Agreement.
(b) Without the prior written consent of the Senior Representatives (as directed by holders of the Notes (as defined in the Senior Indenture) pursuant to the terms of the Senior Indenture), no Junior Priority Debt Document may be amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified, or entered into, and no Indebtedness under the Junior Priority Debt Documents may be Refinanced, to the extent such amendment, restatement, supplement or modification or Refinancing, or the terms of such new Junior Priority Debt Document, would contravene the provisions of this Agreement. Each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that each Junior Priority Collateral Document under its Junior Priority Debt Facility shall include the following language (or language to similar effect reasonably approved by the Designated Senior Representative):
“Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the liens and security interests granted to Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral agent pursuant to this Agreement are expressly subject and subordinate to the liens and security interests granted in favor of the Senior Secured Parties (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement referred to below), including liens and security interests granted to Wilmington Trust, National Association, as collateral agent, pursuant to or in connection with the Senior Secured Notes Indenture, dated as of November 13, 2025 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), among Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and as collateral agent, and (ii) the exercise of any right or remedy by the Junior Priority Representative hereunder is subject to the limitations and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2025 (as amended, restated, extended, amended and restated,
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supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”), among Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its respective subsidiaries and affiliated entities party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the Senior Agent, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the Initial Junior Priority Representative. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern.”
(c) In the event that any Senior Representative and/or the Senior Secured Parties enter into any amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the Senior Collateral Documents for the purpose of adding to or deleting from, or waiving or consenting to any departures from any provisions of, any Senior Collateral Document or changing in any manner the rights of the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Issuer or any other Grantor thereunder (including the release of any Liens in Senior Collateral and/or the release of any Grantor of its guaranty of the Senior Notes Obligations) in a manner that is applicable to all Senior Facilities, then such amendment, waiver or consent shall apply automatically to any comparable provision of each comparable Junior Priority Collateral Document without the consent of any Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party and without any action by any Junior Priority Representative, the Issuer or any other Grantor; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall (A) remove assets subject to the Junior Priority Liens or release any such Liens, except to the extent that such release is permitted or required by Section 5.01(a) and provided that there is a substantially concurrent release of the corresponding Senior Liens or (B) impose duties that are adverse on any Junior Priority Representative without its prior written consent.
SECTION 5.04. No Rights as Unsecured Creditors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties hereby irrevocably waive any rights or remedies that the Junior Priority Debt Parties have as unsecured creditors against the Issuer and any other Grantor. Nothing in this Agreement shall impair or otherwise adversely affect any rights or remedies the Senior Representatives or the Senior Secured Parties may have with respect to the Senior Collateral.
SECTION 5.05. Gratuitous Bailee for Perfection.
(a) Each Senior Representative acknowledges and agrees that if it shall at any time hold a Lien securing any Senior Obligations on any Shared Collateral that can be perfected by the possession, control, or notation, of such Shared Collateral or of any account in which such Shared Collateral is held, and if such Shared Collateral or any such account is in fact in the possession or under the control of, or notation, in the name of, such Senior Representative, or of agents or bailees of such Person (such Shared Collateral being referred to herein as the “Pledged or Controlled Collateral”), or if it shall at any time obtain any landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or any similar agreement or arrangement granting it rights or access to Shared Collateral, the applicable Senior Representative shall also hold such Pledged or Controlled Collateral, or take such actions with respect to such landlord waiver, bailee’s letter or similar agreement or arrangement, as gratuitous bailee (such bailment being intended, among other things, to satisfy the requirements of Section 8-301(a)(2) and 9-313(c) of the Uniform Commercial Code, to the extent applicable) for the relevant Junior Priority Representatives, in each case solely for the purpose of perfecting the Liens granted under the relevant Junior Priority Collateral Documents or granting rights in or access to any Shared Collateral subject to such landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or any similar agreement or arrangement and subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 5.05.
(b) In the event that any Senior Representative (or its agents or bailees) has Lien filings against Intellectual Property that is part of the Shared Collateral that are necessary for the perfection of Liens in such Shared Collateral, such Senior Representative agrees to hold such Liens as gratuitous bailee
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(such bailment being intended, among other things, to satisfy the requirements of Section 8-301(a)(2) and 9-313(c) of the Uniform Commercial Code, to the extent applicable) for the relevant Junior Priority Representatives and any assignee thereof, solely for the purpose of perfecting the security interest granted in such Liens pursuant to the relevant Junior Priority Collateral Documents, subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 5.05.
(c) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, the Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties shall be entitled to deal with the Pledged or Controlled Collateral in accordance with the terms of the Senior Debt Documents as if the Liens under the Junior Priority Collateral Documents did not exist. The rights of the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties with respect to the Pledged or Controlled Collateral shall at all times be subject to the terms of this Agreement.
(d) The Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties shall have no obligation whatsoever to the Junior Priority Representatives or any Junior Priority Debt Party to assure that any of the Pledged or Controlled Collateral is genuine or owned by the Grantors or to protect or preserve rights or benefits of any Person or any rights pertaining to the Shared Collateral, except for the limited agreements of the Senior Representatives expressly set forth in this Section 5.05. The duties or responsibilities of the Senior Representatives under this Section 5.05 shall be limited solely to holding, controlling, or being notated on, the Shared Collateral and the related Liens referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 5.05 as gratuitous bailee (such bailment being intended, among other things, to satisfy the requirements of Section 8-301(a)(2) and 9-313(c) of the Uniform Commercial Code, to the extent applicable) for the relevant Junior Priority Representative for purposes of perfecting the Lien held by such Junior Priority Representative.
(e) The Senior Representatives shall not have by reason of the Junior Priority Collateral Documents or this Agreement, or any other document, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party, and each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby waives and releases the Senior Representatives from all claims and liabilities arising pursuant to the Senior Representatives’ roles under this Section 5.05 as gratuitous bailees with respect to the Shared Collateral.
(f) Upon the Discharge of Senior Obligations, each applicable Senior Representative shall, at the Grantors’ written request and sole cost and expense, (i) (A) deliver to the Designated Junior Priority Representative, to the extent that it is legally permitted to do so, all Shared Collateral, including all Proceeds thereof, held or controlled by such Senior Representative or any of its agents or bailees, including the transfer of possession and control, as applicable, of the Pledged or Controlled Collateral, together with any necessary endorsements and notices to depositary banks, securities intermediaries and commodities intermediaries, and assign, without recourse, representation or warranty, its rights under any landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or any similar agreement or arrangement granting it rights or access to Shared Collateral or in connection with notations on certificates of title or (B) direct and deliver such Shared Collateral as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct, (ii) notify any applicable insurance carrier that it is no longer entitled to be a loss payee or additional insured under the insurance policies of any Grantor issued by such insurance carrier, and (iii) notify any governmental authority involved in any condemnation or similar proceeding involving any Grantor that the Designated Junior Priority Representative is entitled to approve any awards granted in such proceeding; provided that any necessary documentation in connection with the actions contemplated by this sentence shall be prepared by the applicable Grantors and otherwise reasonably acceptable to the applicable Senior Representative. The Issuer and the other Grantors shall take such further action as is required to effectuate the transfer contemplated hereby and shall indemnify each Senior Representative for loss or damage suffered by such Senior Representative as a result of such transfer, except for loss or damage suffered by any such Person as
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a result of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Senior Representatives have no obligations to follow instructions from any Junior Priority Representative or any other Junior Priority Debt Party in contravention of this Agreement. No Senior Representative shall have any liability to any Junior Priority Debt Party.
(g) None of the Senior Representatives nor any of the other Senior Secured Parties shall be required to marshal any present or future collateral security for any obligations of the Issuer or any Subsidiary to any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party under the Senior Debt Documents or any assurance of payment in respect thereof or to any Junior Priority Debt Party, or to resort to such collateral security or other assurances of payment in any particular order, and all of their rights in respect of such collateral security or any assurance of payment in respect thereof shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights, however existing or arising.
SECTION 5.06. When Discharge of Senior Obligations Deemed To Not Have Occurred. If, at any time substantially concurrently with or after the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, the Issuer or any Subsidiary consummates any Refinancing or incurs any Senior Obligations (other than in respect of the payment of indemnities surviving the Discharge of Senior Obligations), then such Discharge of Senior Obligations shall automatically be deemed not to have occurred for all purposes of this Agreement (other than with respect to any actions taken prior to the date of such designation, consummation or incurrence as a result of the occurrence of such first Discharge of Senior Obligations) and the applicable agreement governing such Senior Obligations shall automatically be treated as a Senior Debt Document for all purposes of this Agreement, including for purposes of the Lien priorities and rights in respect of Shared Collateral set forth herein and the agent, representative or trustee for the holders of such Senior Obligations shall be the Senior Representative for all purposes of this Agreement. Upon receipt of notice of such incurrence (including the identity of the new Senior Representative), each Junior Priority Representative (including the Designated Junior Priority Representative) shall promptly (a) enter into such documents and agreements (at the expense of the Issuer), including amendments or supplements to this Agreement, as the Issuer or such new Senior Representative shall reasonably request in writing in order to provide the new Senior Representative the rights of a Senior Representative contemplated hereby, (b) deliver to such Senior Representative, to the extent that it is legally permitted to do so, all Shared Collateral, including all Proceeds thereof, held or controlled by such Junior Priority Representative or any of its agents or bailees, including the transfer of possession and control, as applicable, of the Pledged or Controlled Collateral, together with any necessary endorsements and notices to depositary banks, securities intermediaries and commodities intermediaries, and assign its rights under any landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or any similar agreement or arrangement granting it rights in or access to Shared Collateral or in connection with notations on certificates of title, (c) upon the reasonable request of any applicable Grantor, notify any applicable insurance carrier that the new Senior Representative is entitled to be a loss payee or additional insured under the insurance policies of any Grantor issued by such insurance carrier and (d) notify any governmental authority involved in any condemnation or similar proceeding involving a Grantor that the new Senior Representative is entitled to approve any awards granted in such proceeding.
ARTICLE VI
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings.
SECTION 6.01. Financing Issues. Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, if the Issuer or any other Grantor shall be subject to any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding and any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party shall desire to consent (or not object) to the sale, use or lease of cash or other collateral or to consent (or not object) to the Issuer’s or any other Grantor’s obtaining financing under Section 363 or Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law (“DIP Financing”), then each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on
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behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that it will raise no objection to, will not support any objection to, and will not otherwise contest such sale, use or lease of such cash or other collateral or such DIP Financing and, except to the extent permitted by the proviso in clause (ii) of Section 3.01(a) and Section 6.03, will not request adequate protection or any other relief in connection therewith and, to the extent the Liens securing any Senior Obligations are subordinated or pari passu with such DIP Financing, will subordinate (and will be deemed hereunder to have subordinated) its Liens in the Shared Collateral to (x) such DIP Financing (and all obligations relating thereto) on the same basis as the Liens securing the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are so subordinated to Liens securing Senior Obligations under this Agreement, (y) any adequate protection Liens granted to the Senior Secured Parties, and (z) to any “carve-out” for professional and United States Trustee fees agreed to by the Senior Representatives. Each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, further agrees that, until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, it will raise no (a) objection to (and will not otherwise contest) any motion for relief from the automatic stay or from any injunction against foreclosure or enforcement in respect of Senior Obligations made by any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party, (b) objection to (and will not otherwise contest) any lawful exercise by any Senior Secured Party of the right to credit bid Senior Obligations at any sale in foreclosure of Senior Collateral or under Section 363(k) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, (c) objection to (and will not otherwise contest) any other request for judicial relief made in any court by any Senior Secured Party relating to the lawful enforcement of any Lien on Senior Collateral, or (d) objection to (and will not otherwise contest or oppose) any order relating to a sale or other disposition of assets of any Grantor (including under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law) for which any Senior Representative has consented or not objected that provides, to the extent such sale or other disposition is to be free and clear of Liens, that the Liens securing the Senior Obligations and the Junior Priority Debt Obligations will attach to the Proceeds of the sale on the same basis of priority as the Liens on the Shared Collateral securing the Senior Obligations rank to the Liens on the Shared Collateral securing the Junior Priority Debt Obligations pursuant to this Agreement. Each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that notice received two (2) Business Days prior to the entry of an order approving such usage of cash or other collateral or approving such financing shall be adequate notice. In no event shall the Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party (i) offer to provide, or propose, any DIP Financing to any Grantor or (ii) credit bid any Junior Priority Debt Obligations, in each case without the written consent of the Senior Representatives unless the Senior Obligations would be indefeasibly paid in full in cash with the first proceeds of such DIP Financing or credit bid.
SECTION 6.02. Relief from the Automatic Stay. Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that none of them shall seek relief from the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or take any action in derogation thereof, in each case in respect of any Shared Collateral, without the prior written consent of the Designated Senior Representative.
SECTION 6.03. Adequate Protection. Each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that none of them shall (A) object, contest or support any other Person objecting to or contesting, and shall be deemed to have hereby irrevocably, absolutely, and unconditionally waived any right to contest, (a) any request by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Parties for adequate protection, (b) any objection by any Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Parties to any motion, relief, action or proceeding based on any Senior Representative’s or Senior Secured Party’s claiming a lack of adequate protection, or (c) the allowance and/or payment of interest, fees, expenses or other amounts of any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or any
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similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law or (B) assert or support any claim for costs or expenses of preserving or disposing of any Collateral under Section 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 6.03 or in Section 6.01, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, no Junior Priority Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party shall be entitled (and the Junior Priority Representatives and Junior Priority Debt Parties shall be deemed to have irrevocably, absolutely, and unconditionally waived any right) to seek or otherwise be granted any type of adequate protection with respect to its interests in the Collateral; provided, however, that (i) if the Senior Secured Parties (or any subset thereof) are granted adequate protection in the form of a Lien on additional or replacement collateral and/or superpriority claims in connection with any DIP Financing or use of cash collateral under Section 363 or 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law (other than in a role of DIP Financing provider), then each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, may seek or request adequate protection in the form of a Lien on such additional or replacement collateral and/or a superpriority claim (as applicable), which (A) Lien is subordinated to the Liens securing or providing adequate protection for, or claims with respect to, all Senior Obligations and such DIP Financing (and all obligations relating thereto and any “carve-out”) on the same basis as the other Liens securing the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are subordinated to the Liens securing Senior Obligations under this Agreement and/or (B) superpriority claim is subordinated to all superpriority claims of the Senior Secured Parties on the same basis as the other claims of the Junior Priority Debt Parties on the same basis that the other claims of the Junior Priority Debt Parties are subordinated to the claims of the Senior Secured Parties under this Agreement, and each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior Priority Debt Parties, shall have irrevocably agreed, pursuant to Section 1129(a)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code, in any stipulation and/or order granting such adequate protection, that such junior superpriority claims may be paid under any plan of reorganization in any combination of cash, debt, equity or other property having a value on the effective date of such plan equal to the allowed amount of such claims, (ii) in the event any Junior Priority Representatives, for themselves and on behalf of the Junior Priority Debt Parties under their Junior Priority Debt Facilities, seek or request adequate protection and such adequate protection is granted in the form of a Lien on additional or replacement collateral and/or a superpriority claim (in each instance, to the extent such grant is otherwise permissible under the terms and conditions of this Agreement), then such Junior Priority Representatives, for themselves and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under their Junior Priority Debt Facilities, agree that each Senior Representative shall also be granted a senior Lien on such additional or replacement collateral and/or a superpriority claim (as applicable) as security and adequate protection for the Senior Obligations and any such DIP Financing and that any Lien on such additional or replacement collateral and/or superpriority claim securing or providing adequate protection for the Junior Priority Debt Obligations shall be subordinated to the Liens on such collateral securing, and claims with respect to, the Senior Obligations and any such DIP Financing (and all obligations relating thereto and any “carve-out”) and any other Liens and superpriority claims granted to the Senior Secured Parties as adequate protection on the same basis as the other Liens securing the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are so subordinated to such Liens securing Senior Obligations under this Agreement so long as (1) each such Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and the Junior Priority Debt Parties, shall have irrevocably agreed pursuant to Section 1129(a)(9) of the Bankruptcy Code, in any stipulation and/or order granting such adequate protection, that such junior superpriority claims may be paid under any plan of reorganization in any combination of cash, debt, equity or other property having a value on the effective date of such plan equal to the allowed amount of such claims, and (2) to the extent the Senior Secured Parties are not granted such adequate protection in such form, any amounts recovered by or distributed to any Junior Priority Debt Party pursuant to or as a result of any Lien on such additional or replacement collateral so granted to the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall be subject to Section 4.02, and/or (iii) in the event any Junior Priority Representatives, for themselves and on behalf of the other Junior Priority Debt Parties under their Junior Priority Debt Facilities, are granted adequate protection (in each instance, to the extent such grant is otherwise permissible under the terms and conditions of this Agreement) in the form of a superpriority claim, then such Junior Priority
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Representatives, for themselves and on behalf of each other Junior Priority Debt Party under their respective Junior Priority Debt Facilities, agree that each Senior Representative shall also be granted adequate protection in the form of a superpriority claim, which superpriority claim shall be senior to the superpriority claim of the Junior Priority Debt Parties (and, to the extent the Senior Secured Parties are not granted such adequate protection in such form, any amounts recovered by or distributed to any Junior Priority Debt Party pursuant to or as a result of any such superpriority claim so granted to the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall be subject to Section 4.02). Each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and each applicable Junior Priority Debt Party, agrees that (a) any adequate protection provided to the Junior Priority Debt Parties may be paid under any plan of reorganization in any combination of cash, indebtedness, equity or other property and (b) the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall not seek adequate protection in the form of payments for current post-petition fees and expenses and/or any other cash payments.
SECTION 6.04. Preference Issues. If any Senior Secured Party is required in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to disgorge, turn over or otherwise pay any amount to the estate of the Issuer or any other Grantor (or any trustee, receiver or similar Person therefor), because the payment of such amount was declared to be or avoided as fraudulent or preferential in any respect or for any other reason, any amount (a “Recovery”), whether received as Proceeds of security, enforcement of any right of setoff or recoupment or otherwise, then the Senior Obligations shall be reinstated to the extent of such Recovery and deemed to be outstanding as if such payment had not occurred and the Senior Secured Parties shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement until a Discharge of Senior Obligations with respect to all such recovered amounts. If this Agreement shall have been terminated prior to such Recovery, this Agreement shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of the parties hereto. Each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby agrees that none of them shall be entitled to benefit from any avoidance action affecting or otherwise relating to any distribution or allocation made in accordance with this Agreement, whether by preference or otherwise, it being understood and agreed that the benefit of such avoidance action otherwise allocable to them shall instead be allocated and turned over for application in accordance with the priorities set forth in this Agreement.
SECTION 6.05. Separate Grants of Security and Separate Classifications. Each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, acknowledges and agrees that (a) the grants of Liens pursuant to the Senior Collateral Documents and the Junior Priority Collateral Documents constitute separate and distinct grants of Liens and (b) because of, among other things, their differing rights in the Shared Collateral, the Junior Priority Debt Obligations are fundamentally different from the Senior Obligations and must be separately classified in any plan of reorganization, plan of liquidation, agreement for composition, or other type of plan of arrangement or restructuring proposed, confirmed or adopted in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. To further effectuate the intent of the parties as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, if it is held that any claims of the Senior Secured Parties and the Junior Priority Debt Parties in respect of the Shared Collateral constitute a single class of claims (rather than separate classes of senior and junior secured claims), then each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby acknowledges and agrees that all distributions from the Shared Collateral shall be made as if there were separate classes of senior and junior secured claims against the Grantors in respect of the Shared Collateral, with the effect being that, to the extent that the aggregate value of the Shared Collateral is sufficient (for this purpose ignoring all claims held by the Junior Priority Debt Parties), the Senior Secured Parties shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts distributed to them in respect of principal, pre-petition interest, fees, expenses and other claims, all amounts owing in respect of post-petition interest, fees and expenses (whether or not allowed or allowable in such Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding) before any distribution from the Shared Collateral is made in respect of the Junior Priority Debt Obligations, with each Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each
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Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby acknowledging and agreeing to turn over to the Designated Senior Representative amounts otherwise received or receivable by them to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this sentence, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing the claim or recovery of the Junior Priority Debt Parties.
SECTION 6.06. No Waivers of Rights of Senior Secured Parties. Nothing contained herein shall, except as expressly provided herein, prohibit or in any way limit any Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party from objecting in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise to any action taken by any Junior Priority Debt Party, including the seeking by any Junior Priority Debt Party of adequate protection or the asserting by any Junior Priority Debt Party of any of its rights and remedies under the Junior Priority Debt Documents or otherwise.
SECTION 6.07. Application. This Agreement, which the parties hereto expressly acknowledge is a “subordination agreement” under Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, shall be effective before, during and after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. The relative rights as to the Shared Collateral and Proceeds thereof shall continue after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding on the same basis as prior to the date of the petition therefor, subject to any court order approving the financing of, or use of cash collateral by, any Grantor. All references herein to any Grantor shall include such Grantor as a debtor-in-possession and any receiver or trustee for such Grantor.
SECTION 6.08. Other Matters. To the extent that any Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party has or acquires rights under Section 363 or Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law with respect to any of the Shared Collateral, such Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees not to assert any such rights without the prior written consent of each Senior Representative; provided that, if requested by the Designated Senior Representative, such Junior Priority Representative shall timely exercise such rights in the manner requested by the Designated Senior Representative, including any rights to payments in respect of such rights.
SECTION 6.09. Limitations. Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that it will not, and will not join with or support any third party in making, opposing, objecting or contesting, as the case may be, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, (i) oppose, object to or contest the determination of the extent of the Liens held by any of the Senior Secured Parties or the value of any superpriority claims under Section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, (ii) oppose, object to or contest the payment to the Senior Secured Parties of interest, fees or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or (iii) assert or enforce any claim under Section 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law senior to or on a parity with the Liens securing the Senior Obligations for costs or expenses of preserving or disposing of any Shared Collateral.
SECTION 6.10. Reorganization Securities; Voting.
(a) If, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, debt obligations of the reorganized debtor secured by Liens upon any property of the reorganized debtor or equity securities are distributed, pursuant to a plan of reorganization, plan of liquidation, agreement for composition, or other type of plan of arrangement or restructuring, on account of the Senior Obligations and/or the Junior Priority Debt Obligations (collectively, a “Plan Distribution”), any such Plan Distribution received by a Junior Priority Debt Party shall be turned over to the Senior Representative for application in accordance with Section 4.02.
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(b) No Junior Priority Debt Party (whether in the capacity of a secured creditor or an unsecured creditor) shall propose, vote in favor of, or otherwise directly or indirectly support any plan of reorganization, plan of liquidation, agreement for composition, or other type of plan of arrangement or restructuring that is inconsistent with or in contravention of the terms of the priorities or other provisions of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or of the other provisions of this Agreement, any vote to accept, and any other act to support the confirmation or approval of, any plan or reorganization or liquidation that is inconsistent with or in contravention of the terms of this Agreement, including in any Junior Priority Debt Party’s capacity as an unsecured creditor, shall be inconsistent with and, accordingly, a violation of the terms of this Agreement and the Senior Representative shall be entitled (and is hereby authorized by the Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of each applicable Junior Priority Debt Party) to have any such vote to accept any such plan of reorganization or liquidation changed and any such support of any such plan of reorganization or liquidation withdrawn.
SECTION 6.11. Section 1111(b) of the Bankruptcy Code. The Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, shall not object to, oppose, support any objection to, or take any other action to impede, the right of any Senior Secured Party to make an election under Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law. The Junior Priority Representative, for itself and on behalf of each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, waives any claim it may hereafter have against any senior claimholder arising out of the election by any Senior Secured Party of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 6.12. Post-Petition Interest. Neither the Junior Priority Representative nor any other Junior Priority Debt Party shall oppose or seek to challenge any claim by the Senior Representative or any other Senior Secured Party for allowance in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding of Senior Obligations consisting of claims for post-petition interest, fees, or expenses under Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or any similar provision of any other Bankruptcy Law or otherwise. Regardless of whether any such claim for post-petition interest, fees or expenses is allowed or allowable, and without limiting the generality of the other provisions of this Agreement, this Agreement expressly is intended to include and does include the “rule of explicitness” in that this Agreement expressly entitles the Senior Secured Parties, and is intended to provide the Senior Secured Parties with the right, to receive payment of all post-petition interest, fees or expenses through distributions made pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement even though such interest, fees and expenses are not allowed or allowable against the bankruptcy estate of the Issuer or any other Grantor under Section 502(b)(2) or Section 506(b) of the Bankruptcy Code or under any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code or any other Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 6.13. Deficiency Claim Turnover. Until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred, if, in connection with an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, any Junior Priority Debt Party receives a distribution (whether in cash or in-kind) solely on account of a deficiency claim out of property not constituting Collateral (such amount, the “Turnover Proceeds”), such Junior Priority Debt Party’s interest in such Turnover Proceeds shall be subject and subordinate to the Senior Secured Parties, and the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall segregate and hold in trust such Turnover Proceeds for the benefit of Senior Secured Parties and shall forthwith pay over such Turnover Proceeds in the form received to the Senior Representative for application to the Senior Obligations.
SECTION 6.14. Asset Dispositions. Neither the Junior Priority Representative nor any other Junior Priority Debt Party shall, in an Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, oppose any sale or disposition of any Collateral that is supported by the Senior Representative or any Senior Secured Party, and the Junior Priority Representative and each other Junior Priority Debt Party will be deemed to have consented under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code (and otherwise) to any sale of any
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Collateral supported by the Senior Secured Parties and to have released their Liens on such assets to the extent such assets constitute Junior Priority Collateral; provided that the proceeds of such sale or disposition are applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, no Junior Priority Debt Party shall raise any objection that an unsecured creditor could assert in its capacity as an unsecured creditor.
ARTICLE VII
Reliance; Etc.
SECTION 7.01. Reliance. The consent by the Senior Secured Parties to the execution and delivery of the Junior Priority Debt Documents to which the Senior Secured Parties have consented and all loans and other extensions of credit made or deemed made on and after the date hereof by the Senior Secured Parties to the Issuer or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to have been given and made in reliance upon this Agreement. Each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, acknowledges that the Junior Priority Debt Documents provide that such Junior Priority Debt Parties have, independently and without reliance on any Senior Representative or other Senior Secured Party, and based on documents and information deemed by them appropriate, made their own credit analysis and decision to enter into the Junior Priority Debt Documents to which they are party or by which they are bound, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and they will continue to make their own credit decisions in taking or not taking any action under the Junior Priority Debt Documents or this Agreement.
SECTION 7.02. No Warranties or Liability. Each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, acknowledges and agrees that neither any Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Party has made any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectibility or enforceability of any of the Senior Debt Documents, the ownership of any Shared Collateral or the perfection or priority of any Liens thereon. The Senior Secured Parties will be entitled to manage and supervise their respective loans and extensions of credit under the Senior Debt Documents in accordance with law and as they may otherwise, in their sole discretion, deem appropriate, and the Senior Secured Parties may manage their loans and extensions of credit without regard to any rights or interests that the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties have in the Shared Collateral or otherwise, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. Neither any Senior Representative nor any other Senior Secured Party shall have any duty to any Junior Priority Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party to act or refrain from acting in a manner that allows, or results in, the occurrence or continuance of an event of default or default under any agreement with the Issuer or any Subsidiary (including the Junior Priority Debt Documents), regardless of any knowledge thereof that they may have or be charged with. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties have not otherwise made to each other, nor do they hereby make to each other, any warranties, express or implied, nor do they assume any liability to each other with respect to (a) the enforceability, validity, value or collectibility of any of the Senior Obligations, the Junior Priority Debt Obligations or any guarantee or security which may have been granted to any of them in connection therewith, (b) any Grantor’s title to or right to transfer any of the Shared Collateral or (c) any other matter except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.
SECTION 7.03. Obligations Unconditional. All rights, interests, agreements and obligations of the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties hereunder shall remain in full force and effect irrespective of:
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(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Document;
(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other terms of, all or any of the Senior Obligations or Junior Priority Debt Obligations, or any amendment or waiver or other modification, including any increase in the amount thereof, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, of the terms of the Senior Indenture or any other Senior Debt Document or of the terms of any Junior Priority Debt Document;
(c) any exchange of any security interest in any Shared Collateral or any other collateral or any amendment, waiver or other modification, whether in writing or by course of conduct or otherwise, of all or any of the Senior Obligations or Junior Priority Debt Obligations or any guarantee thereof;
(d) the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in respect of the Issuer or any other Grantor; or
(e) any other circumstances that otherwise might constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, (i) the Issuer or any other Grantor in respect of the Senior Obligations (other than as set forth in Section 5.06 hereof or other payments or performance) or (ii) any Junior Priority Representative or Junior Priority Debt Party in respect of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous
SECTION 8.01. Conflicts. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.
SECTION 8.02. Continuing Nature of this Agreement; Severability. Subject to Section 5.06 and Section 6.04, this Agreement shall continue to be effective until the Discharge of Senior Obligations shall have occurred. This is a continuing agreement of Lien subordination, and the Senior Secured Parties may continue, at any time and without notice to the Junior Priority Representatives or any Junior Priority Debt Party, to extend credit and other financial accommodations and lend monies to or for the benefit of the Issuer or any Subsidiary constituting Senior Obligations in reliance hereon. The terms of this Agreement shall survive and continue in full force and effect in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 8.03. Amendments; Waivers.
(a) No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right, remedy, privilege or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, remedy, privilege or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, remedy, privilege or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, privilege or power. The rights, powers, privileges and remedies of the parties hereto are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights, powers, privileges or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then
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such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
(b) This Agreement may be amended in writing signed by each Representative (in each case, acting in accordance with the documents governing the applicable Debt Facility for which such Representative acts) and the Grantors. Any such amendment, supplement or waiver shall be in writing and shall be binding upon the Senior Secured Parties and the Junior Priority Debt Parties and their respective successors and assigns.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any Secured Party, any Representative that is not a Disqualified Lender may become a party hereto by execution and delivery of a Joinder Agreement in accordance with Section 8.09 of this Agreement and upon such execution and delivery, such Representative and the Secured Parties and Senior Obligations or Junior Priority Debt Obligations of the Debt Facility for which such Representative is acting shall be subject to the terms hereof.
SECTION 8.04. Information Concerning Financial Condition of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries. The Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall each be responsible for keeping themselves informed of (a) the financial condition of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and all endorsers or guarantors of the Senior Obligations or the Junior Priority Debt Obligations and (b) all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Senior Obligations or the Junior Priority Debt Obligations. The Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall have no duty to advise any other party hereunder of information known to it or them regarding such condition or any such circumstances or otherwise. In the event that any Senior Representative, any Senior Secured Party, any Junior Priority Representative or any Junior Priority Debt Party, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to any other party, it shall be under no obligation to (i) make, and the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties shall not make or be deemed to have made, any express or implied representation or warranty, including with respect to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or validity of any such information so provided, (ii) provide any additional information or to provide any such information on any subsequent occasion, (iii) undertake any investigation or (iv) disclose any information that, pursuant to accepted or reasonable commercial finance practices, such party wishes to maintain confidential or is otherwise required to maintain confidential. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Section 8.04 shall impose an obligation on the Senior Agent to keep itself informed of the financial condition of the Grantors or the risk of nonpayment.
SECTION 8.05. Subrogation. Each Junior Priority Representative, for and on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, hereby waives any rights of subrogation it may acquire as a result of any payment hereunder until the Discharge of Senior Obligations has occurred.
SECTION 8.06. Application of Payments. Except as otherwise provided herein, all payments received by the Senior Secured Parties may be applied, reversed and reapplied, in whole or in part, to such part of the Senior Obligations as set forth in accordance with the terms of the Senior Debt Documents. Each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, assents to any such extension or postponement of the time of payment of the Senior Obligations or any part thereof and to any other indulgence with respect thereto, to any substitution, exchange or release of any security that may at any time secure any part of the Senior Obligations and to the addition or release of any other Person primarily or secondarily liable therefor.
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SECTION 8.07. Additional Grantors. The Grantors agree that, if any Subsidiary shall become a Grantor after the date hereof, it will promptly cause such Subsidiary to become party hereto by executing and delivering an instrument substantially in the form of Annex I. Upon such execution and delivery, such Subsidiary will become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of such instrument shall not require the consent of any other party hereunder, and will be acknowledged by the Designated Junior Priority Representative and the Designated Senior Representative. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Agreement.
SECTION 8.08. Refinancings. The Senior Obligations and the Junior Priority Debt (other than the Initial Junior Priority Debt) may be refinanced or replaced, in whole or in part, in each case, without notice to, or the consent (except to the extent a consent is otherwise required to permit the refinancing or replacement under any Senior Debt Document or Junior Priority Debt Document) of any Senior Representative, any Junior Priority Representative or any other Secured Party, all without affecting the Lien priorities provided for herein or the other provisions hereof; provided that any such refinancing or replacement debt shall satisfy the requirements of Section 8.09. The Designated Junior Priority Representative hereby agrees that at the request of the Issuer, in connection with a refinancing or replacement of Senior Obligations in accordance with Section 5.06 (“Replacement Senior Obligations”), it will enter into a customary agreement with the agent for the Replacement Senior Obligations containing terms and conditions substantially similar to the terms and conditions of this Agreement or otherwise terms and conditions that are customary.
SECTION 8.09. Additional Debt Facilities. To the extent, but only to the extent, permitted by the provisions of the then extant Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents, the Issuer may incur or issue and sell one or more series or classes of Junior Priority Debt and one or more series or classes of Additional Senior Debt. Any such additional class or series of Junior Priority Debt (the “Junior Priority Class Debt”) may be secured by a junior priority or third priority (or lower priority, and in each case of third priority or lower priority, subject to an intercreditor agreement required pursuant to Junior Priority Debt Documents), subordinated Lien on Shared Collateral, in each case under and pursuant to the relevant Junior Priority Collateral Documents for such Junior Priority Class Debt, if and subject to the condition that the Representative of any such Junior Priority Class Debt (each, a “Junior Priority Class Debt Representative”), acting on behalf of the holders of such Junior Priority Class Debt (such Representative and holders in respect of any Junior Priority Class Debt being referred to as the “Junior Priority Class Debt Parties”), becomes a party to this Agreement by satisfying conditions (i) through (iii), as applicable of this Section 8.09. Any such additional class or series of Senior Facilities (the “Senior Class Debt”; and the Senior Class Debt and Junior Priority Class Debt, collectively, the “Class Debt”) may be secured by a senior Lien on Shared Collateral, in each case under and pursuant to the relevant Senior Collateral Documents, if and subject to the condition that the Representative of any such Senior Class Debt (each, a “Senior Class Debt Representative”; and the Senior Class Debt Representatives and Junior Priority Class Debt Representatives, collectively, the “Class Debt Representatives”), acting on behalf of the holders of such Senior Class Debt (such Representative and holders in respect of any such Senior Class Debt being referred to as the “Senior Class Debt Parties”; and the Senior Class Debt Parties and Junior Priority Class Debt Parties, collectively, the “Class Debt Parties”), becomes a party to this Agreement by satisfying the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iii), as applicable, of this Section 8.09. In order for a Class Debt Representative to become a party to this Agreement:
(i) such Class Debt Representative shall have executed and delivered a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Annex II hereto (if such Representative is a Junior Priority Class Debt Representative) or Annex III hereto (if such Representative is a Senior Class Debt Representative) (with such changes as may be reasonably approved by the Designated Senior Representative and such Class Debt Representative) pursuant to which it becomes a Representative
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hereunder, and the Class Debt in respect of which such Class Debt Representative is the Representative and the related Class Debt Parties become subject hereto and bound hereby;
(ii) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Designated Senior Representative and Designated Junior Priority Representative an officer’s certificate stating that the conditions set forth in this Section 8.09 are satisfied (or waived) with respect to such Class Debt and, if requested, true and complete copies of each of the material Junior Priority Debt Documents or material Senior Debt Documents, as applicable, relating to such Class Debt, certified as being true and correct in all material respects by a Responsible Officer of the Issuer, and identifying the obligations to be designated as Additional Senior Debt or Additional Junior Priority Debt, as applicable, and certifying that such obligations are permitted to be incurred and secured (I) in the case of Additional Senior Debt, on a senior basis under each of the then extant Senior Debt Documents and (II) in the case of Junior Priority Debt, on a junior basis under each of the Junior Priority Debt Documents; and
(iii) the Junior Priority Debt Documents or Senior Debt Documents, as applicable, relating to such Class Debt shall provide that each Class Debt Party with respect to such Class Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of this Agreement in its capacity as a holder of such Class Debt.
SECTION 8.10. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each Representative, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties of the Debt Facility for which it is acting, irrevocably and unconditionally:
(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement to the exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York, in each case sitting in New York City in the Borough of Manhattan, and appellate courts from any thereof;
(b) consents that any such action or proceeding shall be brought in such courts and waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same or to commence or support any such action or proceeding in any other courts;
(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding shall be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Person at its address set forth in Section 8.11;
(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right of any other party hereto (or any Secured Party) to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law; and
(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 8.10 any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.
SECTION 8.11. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent:
(i) if to the Issuer or any other Grantor, to the Issuer, at its address at:
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| Address: | Fossil Group, Inc.<br><br><br>901 S. Central Expressway<br><br><br>Richardson, Texas 75080 |
|---|---|
| Attention: | Randy Hyne, Chief Legal Officer |
| Email: | randyh@fossil.com |
| with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to: | |
| Address: | Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP<br><br><br>767 5th Avenue<br> <br>New York, NY<br>10153 |
| Attention: | Gary T. Holtzer<br><br><br>Sunny Singh<br> <br>Philip L.<br>DiDonato |
| Email: | gary.holtzer@weil.com<br><br><br>sunny.singh@weil.com<br><br><br>philip.didonato@weil.com |
(ii) if to the Initial Junior Priority Representative to it at:
| Address: | Wilmington Trust, National Association<br><br><br>Global Capital Markets<br> <br>50 South<br>Sixth Street, Suite 1290<br> <br>Minneapolis, MN 55402 |
|---|---|
| Attention: | Fossil Group, Inc. Administrator |
| Facsimile: | 612-217-5651 |
| with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to: | |
| Address: | Alston & Bird LLP<br><br><br>1120 South Tryon Street<br> <br>Suite<br>300<br> <br>Charlotte, NC 28203-6818 |
| Attention: | Jason Solomon |
| Email: | jason.solomon@alston.com |
(iii) if to the Senior Agent, to it at:
| Address: | Wilmington Trust, National Association<br><br><br>Global Capital Markets<br> <br>50 South<br>Sixth Street, Suite 1290<br> <br>Minneapolis, MN 55402 |
|---|---|
| Attention: | Fossil Group, Inc. Administrator |
| Facsimile: | 612-217-5651 |
| with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to: |
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| Address: | Alston & Bird LLP<br><br><br>1120 South Tryon Street<br> <br>Suite<br>300<br> <br>Charlotte, NC 28203-6818 |
|---|---|
| Attention: | Jason Solomon |
| Email: | jason.solomon@alston.com |
(iv) if to any other Representative, to it at the address specified by it in the Joinder Agreement delivered by it pursuant to Section 8.09.
Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and, may be personally served, faxed, electronically mailed or sent by courier service or U.S. mail and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by courier service, upon receipt of a fax or electronic mail or upon receipt via U.S. mail (registered or certified, with postage prepaid and properly addressed). For the purposes hereof, the addresses of the parties hereto shall be as set forth above or, as to each party, at such other address as may be designated by such party in a written notice to all of the other parties. As agreed to in writing among each Representative from time to time, notices and other communications may also be delivered by e-mail to the e-mail address of a representative of the applicable person provided from time to time by such person.
SECTION 8.12. Further Assurances. Each Senior Representative, on behalf of itself and each Senior Secured Party under the Senior Facility for which it is acting, each Junior Priority Representative, on behalf of itself, and each Junior Priority Debt Party under its Junior Priority Debt Facility, agrees that it will take such further action and shall, at the Grantors’ cost and expense, execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments (in recordable form, if requested) as the other parties hereto may reasonably request and prepare to effectuate the terms of, and the Lien priorities contemplated by, this Agreement.
SECTION 8.13. GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.
(A) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, ANDCONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(B) EACH PARTYHERETO BY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS HEREOF HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW) THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION, PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY RELATED TOOR ARISING OUT OF THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT OR THE PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES HEREUNDER.
SECTION 8.14. Binding on Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Senior Representatives, the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Priority Representatives, the Junior Priority Debt Parties, the Issuer, the other Grantors party hereto and their respective permitted successors and permitted assigns.
SECTION 8.15. Section Headings. Section headings herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation hereof.
SECTION 8.16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other
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electronic transmission), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to be an original and shall constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records, 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.
SECTION 8.17. Authorization. By its signature, each Person (other than an individual) executing this Agreement on behalf of a party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto that it is duly authorized to execute this Agreement. The Senior Agent represents and warrants that this Agreement is binding upon the Senior Notes Secured Parties under the Senior Debt Documents. The Junior Priority Representative represents and warrants that this Agreement is binding upon the Junior Priority Debt Parties under the Junior Priority Debt Documents.
SECTION 8.18. No Third Party Beneficiaries; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and the rights and benefits hereof shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and its respective successors and permitted assigns and shall inure to the benefit of and bind each of the Senior Secured Parties, the Junior Priority Debt Parties, and the Grantors. Nothing in this Agreement shall impair, as between the Issuer, and the other Grantors and the Senior Representatives and the Senior Secured Parties, and as between the Issuer and the other Grantors and the Junior Priority Representatives and the Junior Priority Debt Parties, the obligations of the Issuer and the other Grantors, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay principal, interest, fees and other amounts as provided in the Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents respectively.
SECTION 8.19. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective when executed and delivered by all parties hereto.
SECTION 8.20. Senior Agent and Representative.
(a) It is understood and agreed that (a) the Senior Agent is entering into this Agreement in its capacity as collateral agent under the Senior Indenture and the provisions of Article 7 of the Senior Indenture applicable to the Notes Collateral Agent (as defined therein) thereunder shall also apply to the Senior Agent hereunder; (b) the Senior Trustee is entering into this Agreement in its capacity as trustee under the Senior Indenture and the provisions of Article 7 of the Senior Indenture applicable to the Trustee (as defined therein) thereunder shall also apply to the Senior Agent hereunder; (c) the Junior Priority Representative is entering into this Agreement in its capacity as collateral agent under the Junior Priority Indenture, and the provisions of Article 7 of the Junior Priority Indenture to the Notes Collateral Agent (as defined therein) thereunder shall also apply to the Initial Junior Priority Representative hereunder; and (d) the Junior Trustee is entering into this Agreement in its capacity as trustee under the Junior Priority Indenture, and the provisions of Article 7 of the Junior Priority Indenture applicable to the Trustee (as defined therein) thereunder shall also apply to the Initial Junior Priority Representative hereunder.
(b) No Representative shall have any liability or responsibility for the actions or omissions of any other Secured Party, or for any other Secured Party’s compliance with (or failure to comply with) the terms of this Agreement. The Senior Agent shall have no individual liability to any Person if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to any Secured Party (or the Grantors) any amounts in violation of the terms of this Agreement, so long as the Senior Agent is acting in good faith. No Representative shall be responsible for or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without
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limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.
(c) The Senior Agent and the Senior Trustee are executing and delivering this Agreement solely in their capacities as collateral agent and trustee, respectively, under the Senior Indenture and, in so doing, they shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose. Neither the Senior Agent nor the Senior Trustee shall have any duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties on its part to be performed or observed. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to this Agreement: (i) each of the Senior Agent and the Senior Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the applicable Senior Debt Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing contained in this Agreement shall require the Senior Agent or the Senior Trustee to exercise any discretionary acts, and any provision of this Agreement that authorizes or permits the Senior Agent or the Senior Trustee to consent to, disapprove, request, determine, waive, act or decline to act, in its discretion shall be subject to the Senior Agent or the Senior Trustee receiving direction from the Holders (as defined in the Senior Indenture) of a majority in principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Senior Indenture) then outstanding (as defined in the Senior Indenture). The Initial Junior Priority Representative and the Junior Trustee are executing and delivering this Agreement solely in their capacities as collateral agent and trustee, respectively, under the Junior Priority Indenture and, in so doing, they shall not be responsible for the terms or sufficiency of this Agreement for any purpose. Neither the Initial Junior Priority Representative nor the Junior Trustee shall have any duties or obligations under or pursuant to this Agreement other than such duties as may be expressly set forth in this Agreement as duties on its part to be performed or observed. In entering into this Agreement, or in taking (or forbearing from) any action under or pursuant to this Agreement: (i) each of the Initial Junior Priority Representative and the Junior Trustee shall have and be protected by all of the rights, immunities, indemnities and other protections granted to it under the applicable Junior Priority Debt Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing contained in this Agreement shall require the Initial Junior Priority Representative or the Junior Trustee to exercise any discretionary acts, and any provision of this Agreement that authorizes or permits the Initial Junior Priority Representative or the Junior Trustee to consent to, disapprove, request, determine, waive, act or decline to act, in its discretion shall be subject to the Initial Junior Priority Representative or the Junior Trustee receiving direction from the Holders (as defined in the Junior Priority Indenture) of a majority in principal amount of the Notes (as defined in the Junior Priority Indenture) then outstanding (as defined in the Junior Priority Indenture).
(d) Whenever a Representative shall be required, in connection with the exercise of its rights or the performance of its obligations hereunder, to determine the existence or amount of any Secured Obligations, Senior Obligations, Junior Priority Debt Obligations or the Shared Collateral subject to any such Lien, it may request that such information be furnished to it in writing by the other Representatives and shall be entitled to make such determination on the basis of the information so furnished; provided, however, that if a Representative shall fail or refuse reasonably promptly to provide the requested information, the requesting Representative shall be entitled to make any such determination by such method as it may, in the exercise of its good faith judgment, determine, including by reliance upon a certificate of the Issuer and / or other Grantors. Each Representative may rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any determination made by it in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence (or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction) and shall have no liability to the Issuer or any of the other Grantors or any of their respective subsidiaries, any Secured Party or any other person as a result of such determination.
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SECTION 8.21. Relative Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement is intended to or will (a) (except to the extent expressly contemplated herein) amend, waive or otherwise modify the provisions of the Senior Indenture, any other Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Documents, or permit the Issuer or any other Grantor to take any action, or fail to take any action, to the extent such action or failure would otherwise constitute a breach of, or default under, the Senior Credit Agreement or any other Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Documents, (b) change the relative priorities of the Senior Obligations or the Liens granted under the Senior Collateral Documents on the Shared Collateral (or any other assets) as among the Senior Secured Parties, (c) otherwise change the relative rights of the Senior Secured Parties in respect of the Shared Collateral as among such Senior Secured Parties, or (d) obligate the Issuer or any other Grantor to take any action, or fail to take any action, that would otherwise constitute a breach of, or default under, the Senior Indenture or any other Senior Debt Document or any Junior Priority Debt Document.
SECTION 8.22. Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any party in this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.23. Limitations of Enforcement against Swiss Grantors.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Collateral Document, if and to the extent that a Swiss Grantor becomes liable under this Agreement or any other Collateral Document for obligations other than obligations of one of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries (i.e. obligations of its respective direct or indirect parent companies (up-stream liabilities) or sister companies (cross-stream liabilities)) (the “Restricted Obligations”) and if complying with such obligations would not be permitted under Swiss corporate law then applicable, then such obligations and payment amount shall from time to time be limited to the amount permitted to be paid under applicable Swiss law; provided that such limited amount shall at no time be less than the relevant Swiss Grantor’s distributable capital (presently being the balance sheet profits and any reserves available for distribution) at the time or times performance of the relevant obligations is due or requested from such Swiss Grantor, and further provided that such limitation (as may apply from time to time or not) shall not (generally or definitively) release the relevant Swiss Grantor from its obligations in excess thereof, but merely postpone the payment date therefore until such times as payment is again permitted notwithstanding such limitation.
(b) In case a Swiss Grantor who must make a payment in respect of Restricted Obligations under this Agreement or any other Collateral Document is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in respect of such payment, such Swiss Grantor shall:
(1) procure that such payments can be made without deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax, or with deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax at a reduced rate, by discharging the liability to such tax by notification pursuant to applicable law (including double tax treaties) rather than payment of the tax;
(2) if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) above does not apply, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the rate of 35 per cent. (or such other rate as in force from time to time), or if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) above applies for a part of the Swiss Withholding Tax only, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the reduced rate resulting after the discharge of part of such tax by notification under applicable law, from any payment made by it in respect of Restricted Obligations and promptly pay any such taxes to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (Eidgenössische Steuerverwaltung);
(3) notify the Senior Agent that such notification, or as the case may be, deduction has been made and provide the Senior Agent with evidence that such a notification of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration has been made or, as the case may be, such taxes deducted have been paid to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration;
(4) in the case of a deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax:
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(i) use its best efforts to ensure that any person other than a Senior Secured Party which is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment in respect of Restricted Obligations, will, as soon as possible after such deduction (y) request a refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax under applicable law (including tax treaties) and (z) pay to the Senior Agent upon receipt any amounts so refunded; and
(ii) if a Senior Secured Party is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment, and if requested by the Senior Agent, shall provide the Senior Agent (on its behalf or on behalf of any Senior Secured Party) those documents that are required by law and applicable tax treaties to be provided by the payer of such tax, for each relevant Senior Secured Party, to prepare a claim for refund of Swiss Withholding Tax.
(c) If a Swiss Grantor is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in accordance with Section 8.23(b) above, the Senior Agent shall be entitled to further enforce the Swiss Grantor’s obligations and apply proceeds therefrom against the Restricted Obligations up to an amount which is equal to that amount which would have been obtained if no withholding of Swiss Withholding Tax were required, whereby such further enforcements shall always be limited to the maximum amount of the freely distributable reserves of such Swiss Grantor as set out in paragraph (a) above.
(d) If and to the extent requested by the Senior Agent and if and to the extent this is from time to time required under Swiss law (restricting profit distributions), in order to allow the Senior Agent and the Senior Secured Parties to obtain a maximum benefit under this Agreement or any other Collateral Document, as applicable, the relevant Swiss Grantor shall, and any parent company of such Swiss Grantor being a party to this Agreement or any other Collateral Document shall procure that such Swiss Grantor will, promptly implement all such measures and/or to promptly procure the fulfilment of all prerequisites allowing the prompt fulfilment of the Swiss Grantor’s obligations and allowing the relevant Swiss Grantor to promptly perform its obligations and make the (requested) payment(s) hereunder from time to time, including the following:
(1) preparation of an up-to-date audited balance sheet of the relevant Swiss Grantor;
(2) confirmation of the auditors of the relevant Swiss Grantor that the relevant amount represents (the maximum of) freely distributable capital of such Swiss Grantor;
(3) approval by a shareholders meeting of the relevant Swiss Grantor of the capital distribution;
(4) if the enforcement of Restricted Obligations would be limited due to the effects referred to in this clause, then the relevant Swiss Grantor shall to the extent permitted by applicable law write up or realize any of its assets that are shown in its balance sheet with a book value that is significantly lower than the market value of the assets, in case of realization, however, only if such assets are not necessary for the relevant Swiss Grantor’s business (nicht betriebsnotwendig); and
(5) all such other measures necessary or useful to allow payment under the Swiss Grantor’s obligations and to allow the relevant Swiss Grantor to make the payments and perform the obligations agreed hereunder with a minimum of limitations.
SECTION 8.24. Limitations of Enforcement against German Grantors.
(a) The Secured Parties agree not to enforce any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to a relevant Senior Debt Document and/or a relevant Junior Priority Debt Document) under this Agreement or the other Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents if and to the extent that (i) the relevant payment and/or enforcement proceeds are applied in satisfaction of any liabilities (including guarantees, letters of credit or similar instruments) of the respective German Grantor’s direct or indirect shareholder(s) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder (verbundenes
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Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (other than the liabilities of any of the respective German Grantor’s wholly owned subsidiaries and, for the avoidance of doubt, the respective German Grantor’s own liabilities) and (ii) such payment and/or enforcement under this Agreement or the other Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents would cause the amount of the respective German Grantor’s net assets (Reinvermögen), as adjusted pursuant to the following provisions, to fall below the amount of its registered share capital (Stammkapital) (Begründungeiner Unterbilanz) or to increase any already existing capital impairment (Vertiefung einer Unterbilanz) in violation of sections 30 and 31 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG), (each such event is hereinafter referred to as a “Capital Impairment”). For the purposes of this Section Section 8.24 “net assets” (Reinvermögen) means the assets calculated on the basis of the balance sheet items listed in sections 266 para. 2 A, B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code (HGB) less all liabilities listed in section 266 para. 3 B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code (HGB) and less such amounts being subject to a distribution barrier (Ausschüttungssperre) pursuant to section 268 para. 8 of the German Commercial Code (HGB), pursuant to section 253 para. 6 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) or pursuant to section 272 para. 5 of the German Commercial Code (HGB), provided that any deviating specifications made by the Federal High Court (Bundesgerichtshof) for the calculation of the net assets shall be taken into account and that for the purposes of the calculation of the enforceable amount (if any), the following balance sheet items shall be adjusted as follows: (i) the amount of any increase of the respective German Grantor’s registered share capital after the date of this Agreement that has been effected without prior written consent of the relevant Secured Parties shall be deducted from the respective German Grantor’s registered share capital; (ii) loans provided to the respective German Grantor by any member of the group shall be disregarded if and to the extent such loans are subordinated or are considered subordinated by operation of law and such loans are not shown in the balance sheet as liability of the respective German Grantor, provided that the creditor of the corresponding receivables could waive such receivables without violating applicable law or any Senior Debt Document or Junior Priority Debt Document; and (iii) loans or other contractual liabilities incurred in violation of the provisions of the Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents shall be disregarded.
(b) Disposal of Relevant Assets. Provided that an enforcement is limited due to the aforementioned provisions, the respective German Grantor shall dispose of all assets, to the extent legally permitted and commercially justifiable, which are not necessary for its business (nicht betriebsnotwendig) on market terms where the relevant assets are shown in the balance sheet of the respective German Grantor with a book value which is significantly lower than the market value of such assets.
(c) Management Notification/Auditor’s Determination. The limitation pursuant to this Section 8.24 shall apply, if following a notice by the relevant Secured Party that it intends to enforce any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to a relevant Senior Debt Document and/or a relevant Junior Priority Debt Document) under this Agreement or the other Senior Debt Document or Junior Priority Debt Document, the respective German Grantor notifies the relevant Secured Party (“Management Notification”) within ten (10) days upon receipt of the relevant notice that a Capital Impairment would occur (setting out in reasonable detail to what extent a Capital Impairment would occur and providing prima facie evidence that a realization or other measures undertaken in accordance with the mitigation provisions set out above would not prevent such Capital Impairment); if the Management Notification is contested by the relevant Secured Party, the relevant Secured Party shall nevertheless be entitled to enforce any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to a relevant Senior Debt Document and/or a relevant Junior Priority Debt Document) under this Agreement or the other Senior Debt Document or Junior Priority Debt Documents up to such amount, which is, based on the Management Notification, undisputed between itself and the respective German Grantor. In relation to the amount which is in dispute, the respective German Grantor undertakes (at its own cost and expense) to arrange for the
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preparation of a balance sheet by its auditors in order to have such auditors determine whether (and if so, to what extent) any enforcement of payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, with-out limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to the relevant Grantor) under this Agreement or the other Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents would cause a Capital Impairment (the “Auditor’s Determination”). The Auditor’s Determination shall be prepared, taking into account the adjustments set out above in relation to the calculation of a Capital Impairment, by applying the generally accepted accounting principles applicable from time to time in Germany (Grundsätze ordnungsmä ß iger Buchführung) based on the same principles and evaluation methods as consistently applied by the respective German Grantor in the preparation of its financial statements, in particular in the preparation of its most recent annual balance sheet, and taking into consideration applicable court rulings of German courts. The respective German Grantor shall provide the Auditor’s Determination to the relevant Secured Party within thirty (30) days from the date on which the relevant Secured Party contested the Management Notification in writing. The Auditor’s Determination shall be binding on the respective German Grantor and the relevant Secured Party. If, and to the extent that, any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to a relevant Senior Debt Document and/or a relevant Junior Priority Debt Document) under this Agreement or the other Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents has been enforced without regard to the limitation set forth in Section 8.24(a) above because the amount of the available net assets pursuant to the Auditor’s Determination is lower than the amount stated in the Management Notification, the relevant Secured Party shall upon written demand of the respective German Grantor to the relevant Secured Party repay any amount (if and to the extent already paid to the relevant Secured Party up to and including the amount calculated in the Auditor’s Determination as of the date the enforcement of any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to a relevant Senior Debt Document and/or a relevant Junior Priority Debt Document) under this Agreement or any other Senior Debt Document or Junior Priority Debt Document was made. If pursuant to the Auditor’s Determination the amount of the available net assets is higher than set out in the Management Notification, the relevant Secured Party shall be entitled to enforce into such available net assets accordingly.
(d) Exceptions. Notwithstanding the above, the limitations pursuant to this Section 8.24 shall not apply: (i) if, at the time of the enforcement of payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to a relevant Senior Debt Document and/or a relevant Junior Priority Debt Document) hereunder, the limitations set out in Section 8.24(a) above are (due to a change in law or applicable court rulings or otherwise) no longer required in order to protect the managing director(s) of the respective German Grantor from being personally or criminally liable for such obligation according to section 31 of the German Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbH-Gesetz); or (ii) if the respective German Grantor is party as dominated entity (beherrschtes Unternehmen) of a domination agreement (Beherrschungsvertrag) and/ or a profit and loss transfer agreement (Gewinnabführungsvertrag) pursuant to section 30 para 1 sentence 2 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG) (directly or through an unbroken chain of domination and/ or profit and loss pooling agreements) with the entity whose liabilities are secured or shall be paid, unless the enforcement of payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/ or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to a relevant Senior Debt Document and/or a relevant Junior Priority Debt Document) hereunder or under the other Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents would cause of violation of sections 30, 31 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG); or (iii) if the respective German Grantor has a recourse right (Rückgriffsanspruch) pursuant to section 30 para 1 sentence 2 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG), towards its direct or indirect shareholder(s) (upstream) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder (verbundenes Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (cross-stream) whose liabilities are secured or shall be paid which is
-39-
fully recoverable (werthaltig); or (iv) for so long as the respective German Grantor fails to deliver the Management Notification and/or the Auditor’s Determination pursuant to Section 8.24(c) above; or (v) to any amounts borrowed under the Senior Debt Documents or Junior Priority Debt Documents to the extent the proceeds of such borrowing are on-lent to the respective German Grantor or its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Senior Indenture) to the extent that any amounts so on-lent are still outstanding at the time the relevant demand is made against the respective German Grantor and the repayment of such loans as a result of such on-lending is not prohibited by the Senior Debt Documents or the Junior Priority Debt Documents or by operation of law; or (vi) if insolvency proceedings have been opened in relation to such German Grantor and the federal court of justice in Germany (Bundesgerichtshof) has determined that any enforcement of up-stream or cross-stream security and consequential payments no longer cause any personal liability of any managing director of such German Grantor.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
-40-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL<br><br><br>ASSOCIATION, as Senior Representative for the<br><br><br>Senior Notes Secured Parties | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Jane Schweiger |
| Name: Jane Schweiger | |
| Title: Vice President | |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL<br><br><br>ASSOCIATION, as Initial Junior Priority<br><br><br>Representative | |
| By: | /s/ Jane Schweiger |
| Name: Jane Schweiger | |
| Title: Vice President | |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL<br><br><br>ASSOCIATION, as Senior Trustee | |
| By: | /s/ Jane Schweiger |
| Name: Jane Schweiger | |
| Title: Vice President | |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL<br><br><br>ASSOCIATION, as Junior Trustee | |
| By: | /s/ Jane Schweiger |
| Name: Jane Schweiger | |
| Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement]
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC.,<br><br><br>as the Issuer | |
|---|---|
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |
| FOSSIL GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC., as a<br><br><br>Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: President | |
| FOSSIL CANADA INC., as a Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer | |
| FOSSIL PARTNERS, L.P., as a Guarantor | |
| By: | Fossil Group, Inc. its General Partner |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |
| FOSSIL STORES I, INC., as a Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer | |
| FOSSIL INTERMEDIATE, INC., as a Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement]
| FOSSIL TRUST, acting pursuant to the Agreement and Contract of Trust of Fossil Trust dated,<br>August 31, 1994, as a U.S. Guarantor |
|---|
| By: |
| FOSSIL (UK) HOLDINGS LIMITED, as a Guarantor |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL (UK) LIMITED, as a Guarantor |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL (OPE) GMBH, as a Guarantor |
| By: |
All values are in Euros.
[Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement]
| SWISS TECHNOLOGY HOLDING GMBH, as a<br>Guarantor |
|---|
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL GROUP OPE GMBH, as a Guarantor |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL OPE B.V., as a Guarantor |
| By: |
| By: |
All values are in Euros.
[Signature Page to Intercreditor Agreement]
ANNEX I
SUPPLEMENT NO. [●] (this “Supplement”), dated as of [●], to the INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of November 13, 2025 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”), among FOSSIL GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the other Grantors party hereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Senior Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Initial Junior Priority Representative, and the additional Representatives from time to time a party thereto.
A. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Intercreditor Agreement. Section 1.02 contained in the Intercreditor Agreement is incorporated herein, mutatis mutandis, as if a part hereof.
B. The Grantors have entered into the Intercreditor Agreement. Pursuant to the Senior Debt Documents, certain Additional Senior Debt Documents and certain Junior Priority Debt Documents, certain newly acquired or organized Subsidiaries of the Issuer are required to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement. Section 8.07 of the Intercreditor Agreement provides that such Subsidiaries may become party to the Intercreditor Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Subsidiary (the “New Grantor”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Senior Indenture, the Junior Priority Debt Documents and Additional Senior Debt Documents.
Accordingly, the New Grantor agrees as follows:
SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 8.07 of the Intercreditor Agreement, the New Grantor by its signature below becomes a Grantor under the Intercreditor Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor, and the New Grantor hereby agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor thereunder. Each reference to a “Grantor” in the Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Grantor. The Intercreditor Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. The New Grantor represents and warrants to the Designated Senior Representative and the other Secured Parties on the date hereof that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, concurso mercantile, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, (ii) the need for filings and registrations necessary to create or perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties and (iii) with respect to enforceability against Foreign Subsidiaries or under foreign laws, and the effect of foreign laws, rules and regulations.
SECTION 3. This Supplement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the Designated Senior Representative shall have received a counterpart of this Supplement that bears the signature of the New Grantor (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such effectiveness shall not be subject to, or conditioned on, the acknowledgement by the Designated Senior Representative, the Designated Junior Priority Representative or any other person). Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile transmission or other electronic method shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Supplement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually
Annex I-1
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.
SECTION 4. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 5. THIS SUPPLEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, ANDCONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 6. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, no party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Intercreditor Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired.
SECTION 7. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 8.11 of the Intercreditor Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Grantor shall be given to it in care of the Issuer as specified in the Intercreditor Agreement.
SECTION 8. The Issuer agrees to reimburse the Designated Senior Representative for its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement, including the reasonable documented fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for the Designated Senior Representative to the extent reimbursable under the Senior Debt Documents.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; Signature pages follow]
Annex I-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Grantor has duly executed this Supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
| [NAME OF NEW SUBSIDIARY GRANTOR] | |
|---|---|
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| Acknowledged by: | |
| --- | --- |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL<br><br><br>ASSOCIATION, | |
| as Designated Senior Representative | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL<br><br><br>ASSOCIATION, | |
| as Designated Junior Priority Representative | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: |
Annex I-3
ANNEX II
REPRESENTATIVE SUPPLEMENT NO. [●] (this “Representative Supplement”), dated as of [●], to the INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of November 13, 2025 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”), among Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the other Grantors party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Senior Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Initial Junior Priority Representative, and the additional Representatives from time to time a party thereto.
A. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Intercreditor Agreement. Section 1.02 contained in the Intercreditor Agreement is incorporated herein, mutatis mutandis, as if a part hereof.
B. As a condition to the ability of the Issuer to incur Junior Priority Debt Obligations after the effective date and to secure such Junior Priority Class Debt with the Junior Priority Lien and to have such Junior Priority Class Debt guaranteed by the Grantors on a subordinated lien basis, in each case under and pursuant to the Junior Priority Collateral Documents, the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative in respect of such Junior Priority Class Debt is required to become a Representative under, and such Junior Priority Class Debt and the Junior Priority Class Debt Parties in respect thereof are required to become subject to and bound by, the Intercreditor Agreement. Section 8.09 of the Intercreditor Agreement provides that such Junior Priority Class Debt Representative may become a Representative under, and such Junior Priority Class Debt and such Junior Priority Class Debt Parties may become subject to and bound by, the Intercreditor Agreement, pursuant to the execution and delivery by the Junior Priority Class Debt Representative of an instrument in the form of this Representative Supplement and the satisfaction of the other conditions set forth in Section 8.09 of the Intercreditor Agreement. The undersigned Junior Priority Class Debt Representative (the “New Representative”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents.
Accordingly, the New Representative agrees as follows:
SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 8.09 of the Intercreditor Agreement, the New Representative by its signature below becomes a Representative under, and the related Junior Priority Class Debt and Junior Priority Class Debt Parties become subject to and bound by, the Intercreditor Agreement with the same force and effect as if the New Representative had originally been named therein as a Representative, and the New Representative, on behalf of itself and such Junior Priority Class Debt Parties, hereby agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as a Junior Priority Representative and to the Junior Priority Class Debt Parties that it represents as Junior Priority Debt Parties. Each reference to a “Representative” or “Junior Priority Representative” in the Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Representative. The Intercreditor Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. The New Representative represents and warrants to the Designated Senior Representative and the other Secured Parties that (i) it has full power and authority to enter into this Representative Supplement, in its capacity as [agent][trustee] under [describe new facility], (ii) this Representative Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of such Agreement and (iii) the Junior Priority Debt Documents relating to such Junior Priority Class Debt provide that, upon the New Representative’s entry into this Agreement, the Junior Priority Class Debt Parties in respect of such
Annex II-1
Junior Priority Class Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as Junior Priority Debt Parties.
SECTION 3. This Representative Supplement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Representative Supplement shall become effective when the Designated Senior Representative shall have received a counterpart of this Representative Supplement that bears the signature of the New Representative (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such effectiveness shall not be subject to, or conditioned on, the acknowledgement by the Designated Senior Representative or any other person). Delivery of an executed signature page to this Representative Supplement by facsimile transmission or other electronic method shall be effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Representative Supplement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records, 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.
SECTION 4. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 5. THIS SUPPLEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, ANDCONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 6. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Representative Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, no party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Intercreditor Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired.
SECTION 7. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 8.11 of the Intercreditor Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Representative shall be given to it at the address set forth below its signature hereto.
SECTION 8. The Issuer agrees to reimburse the Designated Senior Representative for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Representative Supplement, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for the Designated Senior Representative to the extent reimbursable under the Senior Debt Documents.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; Signature pages follow]
Annex II-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Representative has duly executed this Representative Supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
| [NAME OF NEW REPRESENTATIVE], | |
|---|---|
| as [_______] for the holders of [________] | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| Address for notices: | |
| Attention <br>of: | |
| Telecopy: |
Annex II-3
| Acknowledged by: |
|---|
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. |
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
| [●] |
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
Annex II-4
ANNEX III
REPRESENTATIVE SUPPLEMENT NO. [●], dated as of [●], to the INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, dated as of November 13, 2025 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”), among Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the other Grantors party thereto, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Senior Agent, Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Initial Junior Priority Representative, and the additional Representatives from time to time a party thereto.
A. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Intercreditor Agreement. Section 1.02 contained in the Intercreditor Agreement is incorporated herein, mutatis mutandis, as if a part hereof.
B. As a condition to the ability of the Issuer to incur Senior Class Debt after the date of the Intercreditor Agreement and to secure such Senior Class Debt with the Senior Lien and to have such Senior Class Debt guaranteed by the Grantors on a senior lien basis, in each case under and pursuant to the Senior Collateral Documents, the Senior Class Debt Representative in respect of such Senior Class Debt is required to become a Representative under, and such Senior Class Debt and the Senior Class Debt Parties in respect thereof are required to become subject to and bound by, the Intercreditor Agreement. Section 8.09 of the Intercreditor Agreement provides that such Senior Class Debt Representative may become a Representative under, and such Senior Class Debt and such Senior Class Debt Parties may become subject to and bound by, the Intercreditor Agreement, pursuant to the execution and delivery by the Senior Class Debt Representative of an instrument in the form of this Representative Supplement and the satisfaction of the other conditions set forth in Section 8.09 of the Intercreditor Agreement. The undersigned Senior Class Debt Representative (the “New Representative”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Senior Debt Documents and the Junior Priority Debt Documents.
Accordingly, the New Representative agrees as follows:
SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 8.09 of the Intercreditor Agreement, the New Representative by its signature below becomes a Representative under, and the related Senior Class Debt and Senior Class Debt Parties become subject to and bound by, the Intercreditor Agreement with the same force and effect as if the New Representative had originally been named therein as a Representative, and the New Representative, on behalf of itself and such Senior Class Debt Parties, hereby agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement applicable to it as a Senior Representative and to the Senior Class Debt Parties that it represents as Senior Secured Parties. Each reference to a “Representative” or “Senior Representative” in the Intercreditor Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Representative. The Intercreditor Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. The New Representative represents and warrants to the Designated Senior Representative and the other Secured Parties that (i) it has full power and authority to enter into this Representative Supplement, in its capacity as [agent] [trustee under [describe new facility]], (ii) this Representative Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of such Agreement and (iii) the Senior Debt Documents relating to such Senior Class Debt provide that, upon the New Representative’s entry into this Agreement, the Senior Class Debt Parties in respect of such Senior Class Debt will be subject to and bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as Senior Secured Parties.
SECTION 3. This Representative Supplement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.
Annex III-1
This Representative Supplement shall become effective when the Designated Senior Representative shall have received a counterpart of this Representative Supplement that bears the signature of the New Representative (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such effectiveness shall not be subject to, or conditioned on, the acknowledgement by the Designated Senior Representative or any other person). Delivery of an executed signature page to this Representative Supplement by facsimile transmission or other electronic method shall be effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Representative Supplement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or electronic records, 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.
SECTION 4. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Intercreditor Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 5. THIS SUPPLEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, ANDCONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 6. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Representative Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, no party hereto shall be required to comply with such provision for so long as such provision is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, but the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Intercreditor Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired.
SECTION 7. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 8.11 of the Intercreditor Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to the New Representative shall be given to it at the address set forth below its signature hereto.
SECTION 8. The Issuer agrees to reimburse the Designated Senior Representative for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Representative Supplement, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for the Designated Senior Representative to the extent reimbursable under the Senior Debt Documents.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; Signature pages follow]
Annex III-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Representative has duly executed this Representative Supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
| [NAME OF NEW REPRESENTATIVE], | |
|---|---|
| as [_______] for the holders of [________] | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| Address for notices: | |
| Attention <br>of: | |
| Telecopy: |
Annex III-3
| Acknowledged by: |
|---|
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC. |
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
| [●] |
| By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
Annex III-4
EX-10.3
Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION
FIRSTAMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT AND FIRST AMENDMENT TO U.S. SECURITY AGREEMENT
This FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT ANDFIRST AMENDMENT TO U.S. SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of November 13, 2025 (this “Amendment”), is entered into by and among Fossil Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Fossil Partners, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“Fossil Partners”), the other Loan Parties party hereto, the Lenders party hereto and ACF FINCO I LP, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”). ****
WHEREAS, the Company, the other Loan Parties party thereto, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2025 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Credit Agreement, the Company, the other Loan Parties party thereto and the Administrative Agent entered into that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2025 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “U.S. Security Agreement”);
WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Amendment, the Company, the other Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement and the U.S. Security Agreement as set forth in this Amendment;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby) or if not defined therein, then in the U.S. Security Agreement.
Section 2. Amendments to Credit Agreement. Upon the First Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), the parties hereto consent and agree that the Credit Agreement (excluding the exhibits and schedules thereto, all of which exhibits and schedules (unless otherwise expressly amended hereby) shall be unamended and unaltered hereby and shall remain in full force and effect), is hereby amended to (x) delete the stricken text (as indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: ~~stricken text~~), (y) add the double-underlined text (as indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text), and (z) move any affected text (as indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: ~~moved text~~) from its original location in the Credit Agreement to a different location within the Credit Agreement (as indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: moved double-underlined text), in each case, as set forth in the composite amended Credit Agreement attached to this Amendment as Annex A.
Section 3. Amendments to U.S. Security Agreement.
(a) Upon the First Amendment Effective Date, the U.S. Loan Parties party hereto and the Administrative Agent consent and agree that Section 1.01 of the U.S. Security Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating the definition of “Excluded Asset” in its entirety to read as follows:
““Excluded Asset” means (a) (x) any fee-owned real property that is (i) located outside the United States, (ii) excluded to the extent that security interests over such assets would result in material adverse tax treatment, or (iii) not Material Real Property and (y) all leasehold interests in real property; (b) motor vehicles, aircrafts, vessels and other goods subject to certificates of title (in each case except to the extent perfection can be accomplished through the filing of UCC-1 financing statements); (c) letter of credit rights with a value of less than $500,000 (except to the extent (x) perfection can be accomplished through the filing of UCC-1 financing statements or (y) the Administrative Agent has obtained control over such letter of credit rights or has possession of the applicable letter of credit in accordance with the Credit Agreement) and Commercial Tort Claims with a value of less than $750,000; (d) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation (including the requirement to obtain consent of any governmental authority) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction; (e) the Excluded Equity Interests; (f) any lease, permit, license (including Licenses) or other agreement or any property subject to a purchase money security interest or similar arrangement permitted by the Credit Agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate, invalidate, be prohibited or restricted or constitute a default under such lease, permit, license (including Licenses) or agreement or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of, or require the consent of, any other party thereto (other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction notwithstanding such prohibition; provided that, in the case of any Licenses, the foregoing shall only apply to Licenses granted by unaffiliated third parties to a Loan Party; (g) those assets as to which the Administrative Agent and Borrowers reasonably agree that the cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the benefit to the Lenders of the security to be afforded thereby; (h) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations are prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction; (i) “intent-to-use” trademark or service mark applications prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto; (j) any property subject to a Lien existing at the time such property was acquired that is permitted by Section 6.02(d) of the Credit Agreement to the extent and for so long as such contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted prohibits a security interest or pledge on such property, after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction; and (k) any Excluded Accounts (other than the Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts or Commodities Accounts referenced in clause (i)(e), (i)(f) or clause (ii) of the definition of “Excluded Accounts” (but excluding, in the case of such clause (ii), Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts that participate in the Cash Pool)); provided, however, that “Excluded Assets” shall not include (1) any asset included in the Borrowing Base or (2) any property that is pledged to secure obligations arising in respect of the 2029 Notes (whether pursuant to the terms at such time of the foregoing or any related documents).”
Section 4. Conditions to Effectiveness . This Amendment shall, in each case, be effective as of the date the Administrative Agent shall have received this Amendment duly executed and delivered by the Company, the other Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, with all annexes hereto attached hereto (such date, the “First Amendment Effective Date”).
2
Section 5. Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants, on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date, that:
(a) As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof); provided that, to the extent that any representation and warranty specifically refers to a given date or period, it shall be true and correct in all such respects as of such date or for such period.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of this Amendment are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other organizational power and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action of such Loan Party. This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.
(c) No event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Default or Event of Default or will result from giving effect to this Amendment.
Section 6. Effect on Loan Documents. ****
(a) Upon the First Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to “the Credit Agreement”, “thereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as modified and amended hereby.
(b) Upon First Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the U.S. Security Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the U.S. Security Agreement, and each reference in the other Loan Documents to “the U.S. Security Agreement”, “thereof” or words of like import referring to the U.S. Security Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the U.S. Security Agreement as modified and amended hereby.
(c) Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment, the Credit Agreement, the U.S. Security Agreement and all other Loan Documents, are and shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed and shall constitute the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of each Loan Party to Administrative Agent and the Lenders without defense, offset, claim or contribution, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(d) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of Administrative Agent or any Lender under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents.
Section 7. Ratification. Each Loan Party hereby restates, ratifies and reaffirms each and every term and condition set forth in the Credit Agreement and U.S. Security Agreement (to the extent such Loan Party is a party thereto), as amended hereby, and the Loan Documents effective as of the date hereof.
3
Section 8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Except as expressly amended hereby, the provisions of the Loan Documents are and shall remain in full force and effect.
(a) This Amendment may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Amendment and the other Loan 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. This Amendment shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
(b) Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by electronic transmission or other electronic imaging shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment. The words “execution”, “signed”, “signature”, “delivery”, and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby 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; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept electronic signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent.
(b) The provisions of Sections 9.07, 9.09, and 9.10 are, by this reference thereto, hereby incorporated herein mutatis mutandis, as if all references therein to the Credit Agreement were deemed to be references to this Amendment.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow]
4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, by their officers thereunto duly authorized, have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.
| FOSSIL GROUP, INC., | |
|---|---|
| as a U.S. Borrower | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |
| FOSSIL PARTNERS, L.P.<br> <br>as a U.S.<br>Borrower | |
| By: FOSSIL GROUP, INC., its General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | |
| FOSSIL CANADA INC.,<br> <br>as a Canadian<br>Borrower | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer | |
| FOSSIL GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC.,<br> <br>as a<br>U.S. Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: President | |
| FOSSIL INTERMEDIATE INC.,<br> <br>as a U.S.<br>Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer |
[Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement and U.S. Security Agreement]
| FOSSIL STORES I, INC., | |
|---|---|
| as a U.S. Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer | |
| FOSSIL TRUST, acting pursuant to the Agreement and Contract of Trust of Fossil Trust dated, August 31, 1994,<br><br><br>as a U.S. Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Randy Greben |
| Name: Randy Greben | |
| Title: Treasurer | |
| FOSSIL UK LIMITED,<br> <br>as a UK<br>Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Sharon Dean |
| Name: Sharon Dean | |
| Title: Director | |
| By: | /s/ Patrick Turner |
| Name: Patrick Turner | |
| Title: Director | |
| FOSSIL (UK) HOLDINGS LIMITED,<br> <br>as a<br>UK Guarantor | |
| By: | /s/ Sharon Dean |
| Name: Sharon Dean | |
| Title: Director | |
| By: | /s/ Patrick Turner |
| Name: Patrick Turner | |
| Title: Director |
[Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement and U.S. Security Agreement]
| FOSSIL OPE B.V., |
|---|
| as a Dutch Guarantor |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL GROUP OPE GMBH, as a<br>Swiss Borrower |
| By: |
| By: |
| SWISS TECHNOLOGY HOLDING GMBH, as a<br>Swiss Guarantor |
| By: |
| By: |
| FOSSIL (OPE) GMBH, as a German<br>Borrower |
| By: |
All values are in Euros.
[Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement and U.S. Security Agreement]
| ACF FINCO I LP | |
|---|---|
| as Administrative Agent | |
| By: | /s/ Ryan Cascade |
| Name: Ryan Cascade | |
| Title: Duly Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to First Amendment to Credit Agreement and U.S. Security Agreement]
ANNEX A
Conformed Credit Agreement
Attached.
~~EXECUTION~~
ANNEX A TO FIRSTAMENDMENT
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
August 13, 2025
among
FOSSIL GROUP, INC.,
as a U.S. Borrower and the Borrower Representative,
FOSSIL PARTNERS, L.P.,
as a U.S. Borrower,
certain Subsidiaries from time to time party hereto,
as Borrowers,
the other Loan Parties from time to time party hereto,
the Lenders from time to time party hereto,
and
ACF FINCO I LP,
as Administrative Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTICLE I | |||
| DEFINITIONS | |||
| SECTION 1.01 | Defined Terms | 1 | |
| SECTION 1.02 | Classification of Loans and Borrowings | ~~64~~65 | |
| SECTION 1.03 | Terms Generally | ~~64~~65 | |
| SECTION 1.04 | German Terms | ~~64~~66 | |
| SECTION 1.05 | Quebec Interpretation | ~~64~~66 | |
| SECTION 1.06 | Accounting Terms; GAAP | ~~65~~66 | |
| SECTION 1.07 | Currency Matters | ~~66~~67 | |
| SECTION 1.08 | Classification of Actions | ~~66~~68 | |
| SECTION 1.09 | Interest Rates; Benchmark Notifications | ~~66~~68 | |
| SECTION 1.10 | Dutch Terms | ~~66~~68 | |
| ARTICLE II | |||
| THE CREDITS | |||
| SECTION 2.01 | Commitments | ~~67~~69 | |
| SECTION 2.02 | Loans and Borrowings | ~~68~~69 | |
| SECTION 2.03 | Requests for Revolving Borrowings | ~~68~~70 | |
| SECTION 2.04 | Protective Advances | ~~69~~70 | |
| SECTION 2.05 | Overadvances | ~~70~~71 | |
| SECTION 2.06 | Letters of Credit | ~~71~~72 | |
| SECTION 2.07 | Funding of Borrowings | ~~75~~77 | |
| SECTION 2.08 | [Reserved] | ~~76~~77 | |
| SECTION 2.09 | Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Commitments | ~~76~~77 | |
| SECTION 2.10 | Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt | ~~76~~78 | |
| SECTION 2.11 | Prepayment of Loans | ~~77~~79 | |
| SECTION 2.12 | Fees | ~~79~~81 | |
| SECTION 2.13 | Interest | ~~80~~81 | |
| SECTION 2.14 | Alternate Rate of Interest; Illegality | ~~82~~83 | |
| SECTION 2.15 | Increased Costs | ~~83~~85 | |
| SECTION 2.16 | Compensation for Losses | ~~84~~86 | |
| SECTION 2.17 | Taxes | ~~85~~86 | |
| SECTION 2.18 | Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Setoffs | ~~89~~90 | |
| SECTION 2.19 | Mitigation Obligations: Replacement of Lenders | ~~90~~92 | |
| SECTION 2.20 | Defaulting Lenders | ~~91~~92 | |
| SECTION 2.21 | Returned Payments | ~~92~~94 | |
| SECTION 2.22 | Joint and Several Liability of Borrowers | ~~92~~94 | |
| ARTICLE III | |||
| REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | |||
| SECTION 3.01 | Organization; Powers | ~~93~~95 | |
| SECTION 3.02 | Authorization; Enforceability; Benefit to Loan Parties | ~~93~~95 | |
| SECTION 3.03 | Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts | ~~93~~95 | |
| SECTION 3.04 | Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect | ~~94~~95 | |
| SECTION 3.05 | Properties | ~~94~~96 | |
| SECTION 3.06 | Litigation and Environmental Matters | ~~94~~96 |
-i-
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SECTION 3.07 | Compliance with Laws and Agreements | ~~95~~96 | |
| SECTION 3.08 | Investment Company Status, etc. | ~~95~~97 | |
| SECTION 3.09 | Taxes | ~~95~~97 | |
| SECTION 3.10 | ERISA; Labor Matters; Canadian Pension Plans and Canadian Benefit Plans | ~~96~~97 | |
| SECTION 3.11 | Disclosure | ~~97~~98 | |
| SECTION 3.12 | Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures | ~~97~~99 | |
| SECTION 3.13 | Insurance | ~~97~~99 | |
| SECTION 3.14 | Margin Regulations | ~~97~~99 | |
| SECTION 3.15 | Solvency | ~~97~~99 | |
| SECTION 3.16 | Collateral Matters | ~~98~~99 | |
| SECTION 3.17 | Use of Proceeds | ~~98~~100 | |
| SECTION 3.18 | Credit Card Agreements | ~~98~~100 | |
| SECTION 3.19 | Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions | ~~98~~100 | |
| SECTION 3.20 | Borrowing Base Certificate | ~~99~~100 | |
| SECTION 3.21 | Material Contracts | ~~99~~100 | |
| SECTION 3.22 | Exchange Documents | ~~99~~100 | |
| SECTION 3.23 | Centre of Main Interests and Establishments | ~~99~~100 | |
| SECTION 3.24 | Compliance with the Swiss Non-Bank Rules | ~~99~~101 | |
| SECTION 3.25 | Fiscal Unity | ~~99~~101 | |
| ARTICLE IV | |||
| CONDITIONS | |||
| SECTION 4.01 | Effective Date | ~~99~~101 | |
| SECTION 4.02 | Each Credit Event | 10~~2~~4 | |
| ARTICLE V | |||
| AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | |||
| SECTION 5.01 | Financial Statements: Borrowing Base and Other Information | 10~~3~~4 | |
| SECTION 5.02 | Notices of Material Events | 10~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 5.03 | Additional Subsidiaries | 10~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 5.04 | Information Regarding Collateral | 10~~8~~9 | |
| SECTION 5.05 | Existence; Conduct of Business | 11~~8~~0 | |
| SECTION 5.06 | Payment of Obligations | 11~~8~~0 | |
| SECTION 5.07 | Maintenance of Properties | ~~108~~110 | |
| SECTION 5.08 | Insurance | ~~108~~110 | |
| SECTION 5.09 | Books and Records; Inspection Rights | ~~109~~110 | |
| SECTION 5.10 | Compliance with Laws | ~~109~~111 | |
| SECTION 5.11 | Use of Proceeds | ~~109~~111 | |
| SECTION 5.12 | Appraisals | 11~~0~~1 | |
| SECTION 5.13 | Field Examinations | 11~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 5.14 | Depository Banks | 11~~1~~2 | |
| SECTION 5.15 | Further Assurances | 11~~1~~2 | |
| SECTION 5.16 | Credit Card Agreements and Notifications | 11~~1~~2 | |
| SECTION 5.17 | Designation of Subsidiaries | 11~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 5.18 | Deposit Accounts | 11~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 5.19 | Dominion Period | 11~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 5.20 | Notification of Account Debtors of the European Loan Parties | 11~~3~~4 | |
| SECTION 5.21 | Financial Assistance | 11~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 5.22 | European Collateral | 11~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 5.23 | Centre of Main Interests and Establishments | 11~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 5.24 | Lender Calls | 11~~3~~5 |
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| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SECTION 5.25 | Post-Closing Requirements | 11~~4~~5 | |
| SECTION 5.26 | Compliance with the Swiss Non-Bank Rules | 11~~4~~5 | |
| SECTION 5.27 | Exchange Transaction | 11~~4~~5 | |
| SECTION 5.28 | People with Significant Control Regime | 11~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 5.29 | Cash Flow Forecasts | 11~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 5.30 | Company Financial Advisor | 11~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 5.31 | Exchange Milestones | 11~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 5.32 | Cybersecurity and Data Protection | 11~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 5.33 | Intercompany Sourcing Arrangements | 11~~5~~6 | |
| ARTICLE VI | |||
| NEGATIVE COVENANTS | |||
| SECTION 6.01 | Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities | 11~~5~~7 | |
| SECTION 6.02 | Liens | 11~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 6.03 | Fundamental Changes; Business Activities | ~~119~~121 | |
| SECTION 6.04 | Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions | ~~119~~121 | |
| SECTION 6.05 | Asset Sales | 12~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 6.06 | Sale/Leaseback Transactions | 12~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 6.07 | Swap Agreements | 12~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 6.08 | Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness | 12~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 6.09 | Transactions with Affiliates | 12~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 6.10 | Restrictive Agreements | 12~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 6.11 | Amendment of Other Documents | 12~~5~~7 | |
| SECTION 6.12 | Minimum Availability | 12~~5~~7 | |
| SECTION 6.13 | Non-Ordinary Course Activities Prior to Successful Exchange Transaction | 12~~5~~7 | |
| SECTION 6.14 | [Reserved] | 12~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 6.15 | Canadian Pension Plans | 12~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 6.16 | Exchange Transaction | 12~~6~~8 | |
| ARTICLE VII | |||
| EVENTS OF DEFAULT | |||
| ARTICLE VIII | |||
| THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | |||
| SECTION 8.01 | Authorization and Action | ~~129~~131 | |
| SECTION 8.02 | Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. | 13~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 8.03 | Reliance | 13~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 8.04 | Successor Administrative Agent | 13~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 8.05 | Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Bank | 13~~4~~5 | |
| SECTION 8.06 | Collateral Matters | 13~~5~~7 | |
| SECTION 8.07 | Credit Bidding | 13~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 8.08 | Certain ERISA Matters | 13~~7~~8 | |
| SECTION 8.09 | UK Security Agreements | 13~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 8.10 | German and Dutch Security Agreements | 14~~8~~0 | |
| SECTION 8.11 | Swiss Security Agreements | ~~139~~141 |
-iii-
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTICLE IX | |||
| MISCELLANEOUS | |||
| SECTION 9.01 | Notices | 14~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 9.02 | Waivers; Amendments | 14~~2~~5 | |
| SECTION 9.03 | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 14~~5~~7 | |
| SECTION 9.04 | Successors and Assigns | 14~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 9.05 | Survival | 15~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 9.06 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 15~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 9.07 | Severability | 15~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 9.08 | Right of Setoff | 15~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 9.09 | Governing Law: Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process | 15~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 9.10 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 15~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 9.11 | Headings | 15~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 9.12 | Confidentiality | 15~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 9.13 | Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law | 15~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 9.14 | USA PATRIOT Act | 15~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 9.15 | Appointment for Perfection | 15~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 9.16 | Interest Rate Limitation | 15~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 9.17 | No Fiduciary Relationship | 15~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 9.18 | Intercreditor Agreements | 15~~5~~7 | |
| SECTION 9.19 | [Reserved] | 15~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 9.20 | Anti-Money Laundering Legislation | 15~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 9.21 | “Know Your Customer” Checks | 15~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 9.22 | Judgment Currency | 15~~6~~9 | |
| SECTION 9.23 | Waiver of Immunity | 15~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 9.24 | Limitations of Enforcement against German Loan Parties | 15~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 9.25 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | ~~159~~161 | |
| SECTION 9.26 | Acknowledgment Regarding any Supported QFCs | ~~159~~161 | |
| SECTION 9.27 | Data Protection Laws | 16~~0~~2 | |
| ARTICLE X | |||
| U.S. LOAN GUARANTEE | |||
| SECTION 10.01 | Guarantee | 16~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 10.02 | Guarantee of Payment | 16~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 10.03 | No Discharge or Diminishment of U.S. Guarantee | 16~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 10.04 | Defenses Waived | 16~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 10.05 | Rights of Subrogation | 16~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 10.06 | Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration | 16~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 10.07 | Information | 16~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 10.08 | [Reserved] | 16~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 10.09 | Maximum U.S. Liability | 16~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 10.10 | Contribution | 16~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 10.11 | Liability Cumulative | 16~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 10.12 | Benefit to U.S. Guarantors | 16~~2~~4 |
-iv-
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTICLE XI | |||
| CANADIAN LOAN GUARANTY | |||
| SECTION 11.01 | Guarantee | 16~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 11.02 | Guarantee of Payment | 16~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 11.03 | No Discharge or Diminishment of Canadian Guarantee | 16~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 11.04 | Defenses Waived | 16~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 11.05 | Rights of Subrogation | 16~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 11.06 | Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration | 16~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 11.07 | Information | 16~~4~~7 | |
| SECTION 11.08 | Maximum Canadian Liability | 16~~5~~7 | |
| SECTION 11.09 | Contribution | 16~~5~~7 | |
| SECTION 11.10 | Liability Cumulative | 16~~5~~8 | |
| ARTICLE XII | |||
| DUTCH LOAN GUARANTY | |||
| SECTION 12.01 | Guarantee | 16~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 12.02 | Guarantee of Payment | 16~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 12.03 | No Discharge or Diminishment of Dutch Guarantee | 16~~6~~8 | |
| SECTION 12.04 | Defenses Waived | 16~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 12.05 | Rights of Subrogation | 16~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 12.06 | Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration | 16~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 12.07 | Information | 17~~7~~0 | |
| SECTION 12.08 | Maximum Dutch Liability | 17~~8~~0 | |
| SECTION 12.09 | Contribution | 17~~8~~0 | |
| SECTION 12.10 | Liability Cumulative | ~~168~~171 | |
| ARTICLE XIII | |||
| GERMAN LOAN GUARANTY | |||
| SECTION 13.01 | Guarantee | ~~169~~171 | |
| SECTION 13.02 | Guarantee of Payment | ~~169~~171 | |
| SECTION 13.03 | No Discharge or Diminishment of German Guarantee | ~~169~~171 | |
| SECTION 13.04 | Defenses Waived | 17~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 13.05 | Rights of Subrogation | 17~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 13.06 | Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration | 17~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 13.07 | Information | 17~~0~~3 | |
| SECTION 13.08 | Maximum German Liability | 17~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 13.09 | Contribution | 17~~1~~3 | |
| SECTION 13.10 | Liability Cumulative | 17~~1~~3 | |
| ARTICLE XIV | |||
| [RESERVED] | |||
| ARTICLE XV | |||
| SWISS LOAN GUARANTY | |||
| SECTION 15.01 | Guarantee | 17~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 15.02 | Guarantee of Payment | 17~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 15.03 | No Discharge or Diminishment of Swiss Guarantee | 17~~2~~4 | |
| SECTION 15.04 | Defenses Waived | 17~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 15.05 | Rights of Subrogation | 17~~3~~5 | |
| SECTION 15.06 | Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration | 17~~3~~6 | |
| SECTION 15.07 | Information | 17~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 15.08 | Maximum Swiss Liability | 17~~4~~6 |
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| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SECTION 15.09 | Contribution | 17~~4~~6 | |
| SECTION 15.10 | Liability Cumulative | 17~~4~~7 | |
| SECTION 15.11 | Swiss Limitation | 17~~5~~7 | |
| ARTICLE XVI | |||
| UK LOAN GUARANTY | |||
| SECTION 16.01 | Guarantee | 17~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 16.02 | Guarantee of Payment | 17~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 16.03 | No Discharge or Diminishment of UK Guarantee | 17~~7~~9 | |
| SECTION 16.04 | Defenses Waived | 18~~8~~0 | |
| SECTION 16.05 | Rights of Subrogation | 18~~8~~0 | |
| SECTION 16.06 | Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration | ~~178~~180 | |
| SECTION 16.07 | Information | ~~178~~180 | |
| SECTION 16.08 | Maximum UK Liability | ~~179~~181 | |
| SECTION 16.09 | Contribution | ~~179~~181 | |
| SECTION 16.10 | Liability Cumulative | ~~179~~181 | |
| ARTICLE XVII | |||
| THE BORROWER REPRESENTATIVE | |||
| SECTION 17.01 | Appointment; Nature of Relationship | ~~179~~181 | |
| SECTION 17.02 | Powers | 18~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 17.03 | Employment of Agents | 18~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 17.04 | Notices | 18~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 17.05 | Successor Borrower Representative | 18~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 17.06 | Execution of Loan Documents; Borrowing Base Certificate | 18~~0~~2 | |
| SECTION 17.07 | Reporting | 18~~0~~2 | |
| SCHEDULES: | |||
| --- | --- | --- | |
| Schedule 1.01 | — | Excluded Subsidiaries | |
| Schedule 2.01 | — | Commitments | |
| Schedule 3.10 | — | Canadian Pension Plans | |
| Schedule 3.12 | — | Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures | |
| Schedule 3.13 | — | Insurance | |
| Schedule 3.18 | — | Credit Card Agreements | |
| Schedule 5.01 | — | Additional Reporting Requirements | |
| Schedule 5.25 | — | Post-Closing Requirements | |
| Schedule 5.31 | — | Exchange Milestones | |
| Schedule 6.01 | — | Existing Indebtedness | |
| Schedule 6.02 | — | Existing Liens | |
| Schedule 6.04 | — | Existing Investments | |
| Schedule 6.05 | — | Specified Asset Sales | |
| Schedule 6.09 | — | Transactions with Affiliates | |
| Schedule 6.10 | — | Existing Restrictions | |
| EXHIBITS: | |||
| Exhibit A | — | Form of Assignment and Assumption | |
| Exhibit B | — | Form of Borrowing Base Certificate | |
| Exhibit C | — | Form of Borrowing Request | |
| Exhibit D | — | Form of Compliance Certificate |
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| Exhibit E | — | Form of Intercreditor Agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibit F | — | [Reserved] |
| Exhibit G | — | [Reserved] |
| Exhibit H | — | Form of Joinder Agreement |
| Exhibit I-1 | — | Form of U.S. Tax Certificate for Non-U.S. Lenders that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes |
| Exhibit I-2 | — | Form of U.S. Tax Certificate for Non-U.S. Lenders that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes |
| Exhibit I-3 | — | Form of U.S. Tax Certificate for Non-U.S. Participants that are not Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes |
| Exhibit I-4 | — | Form of U.S. Tax Certificate for Non-U.S. Participants that are Partnerships for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes |
| Exhibit J | — | Form of Solvency Certificate |
| Exhibit K | — | Form of Perfection Certificate |
| Exhibit L | — | [Reserved] |
| Exhibit M | — | Form of Intercompany Subordination Agreement |
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CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 13, 2025, among FOSSIL GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), FOSSIL PARTNERS, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“Fossil Partners”), each of the other U.S. Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party hereto (together with the Company, the “U.S. Borrowers”) and FOSSIL CANADA INC., a corporation organized under the laws of New Brunswick (“Fossil Canada” and, together with the U.S. Borrowers and any other Subsidiary designated as a Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the “Borrowers”, and each individually, a “Borrower”), the Guarantors from time to time party hereto, the Lenders from time to time party hereto, ACF FINCO I LP, as Administrative Agent.
R E C I T A L S:
WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to extend a revolving credit facility consisting of $150,000,000 in an aggregate principal amount of Commitments, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
“2026 Notes” means the 7.00% Senior Notes due 2026 issued by the Company, in an original aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000, in favor of the holders thereof pursuant to the 2026 Notes Indenture.
“2026 Notes Documents” means, collectively, (a) the 2026 Notes Indenture, (b) the 2026 Notes, and (c) the other documents, instruments or agreement entered into in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or replaced in accordance therewith and with this Agreement.
“2026 Notes Obligations” means all Indebtedness of the Company under the 2026 Notes Documents, including all “Obligations” under and as defined in the 2026 Notes Indenture.
“2026 Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of November 8, 2021, between the Company, as issuer, and the 2026 Notes Trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated November 8, 2021, between the Company and the 2026 Notes Trustee, and as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented or replaced on or after the Effective Date in accordance therewith and with this Agreement, including pursuant to the Second Supplemental Indenture to the 2026 Notes Indenture, to be entered into by between the Company and the 2026 Notes Trustee, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit H to the Exchange TSA.
“2026 Notes Trustee” means Bank of New York Mellon, N.A., in its capacity as trustee under the 2026 Notes Indentures, together with any of its successors or assigns in such capacity.
“2029 1L Indenture” means the indenture, the material terms of which are substantially consistent with those set forth in the term sheet attached as Exhibit E to the Exchange TSA, and which indenture is otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall be entered into as of the Exchange Effective Date by and among the Company, as issuer, the other Loan Parties party thereto, as guarantors, and the Applicable Senior Notes Trustee, pursuant to which the 2029 1L Notes shall be issued, and as the same may thereafter be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented or replaced in accordance therewith and with this Agreement.
“2029 1L Notes” means the 9.500% First-Out Senior Secured Notes due 2029 to be issued by the Company pursuant to the 2029 1L Indenture in connection with and following the Exchange Transaction, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange TSA.
“2029 1L Notes Documents” means, collectively, (a) the 2029 1L Notes Indenture, (b) the 2029 1L Notes, (c) each 2029 1L Notes Security Document, (d) the Guarantees in respect of the 2029 1L Notes Obligations and (e) the other documents, instruments or agreement entered into in connection with any of the foregoing, which shall, in each case, be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall be entered into in connection with the Exchange Transaction, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange TSA and the other Exchange Documents, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented or replaced in accordance therewith and with this Agreement.
“2029 1L Notes Secured Obligations” means the Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under the 2029 1L Notes Documents.
“2029 1L Notes Security Documents” means, collectively, any security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes and any other documents or instruments that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Loan Party to secure any 2029 1L Notes Obligations or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, modified, supplemented or replaced in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.
“2029 2L Indenture” means the indenture, the material terms of which are substantially consistent with those set forth in the term sheet attached as Exhibit F to the Exchange TSA, and which indenture is otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall be entered into as of the Exchange Effective Date by and among the Company, as issuer, the other Loan Parties party thereto, as guarantors, and the Applicable Senior Notes Trustee, pursuant to which the 2029 2L Notes shall be issued, and as the same may thereafter be amended, modified, supplemented or replaced in accordance therewith and with this Agreement.
“2029 2L Notes” means the Company’s 7.500% Second-Out Senior Secured Notes due 2029 to be issued by the Company pursuant to the 2029 2L Indenture in connection with the Exchange Transaction, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange TSA and the other Exchange Documents.
“2029 2L Notes Documents” means, collectively, (a) the 2029 2L Notes Indenture, (b) the 2029 2L Notes, (c) each 2029 2L Notes Security Document, (d) the Guarantees in respect of the 2029 2L Notes Obligations and (e) the other documents, instruments or agreement entered into in connection with any of the foregoing, which shall, in each case, be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall be entered into in connection with the Exchange Transaction, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange TSA and the other Exchange Documents, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented or replaced in accordance therewith and with this Agreement.
“2029 2L Notes Secured Obligations” means the Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under the 2029 2L Notes Documents.
“2029 2L Notes Security Documents” means, collectively, any security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, control agreements, guarantees, notes and any other documents or instruments that create Liens on any assets or properties of any Loan Party to secure any 2029 2L Notes Obligations or under which rights or remedies with respect to such Liens are governed, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified, supplemented or replaced in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.
“2029 Notes” means, collectively, the 2029 1L Notes and the 2029 2L Notes.
“2029 Notes Documents” means, collectively, the 2029 1L Notes Documents and the 2029 2L Notes Documents.
“2029 Notes Secured Obligations” means, collectively, the 2029 1L Notes Secured Obligations and the 2029 2L Notes Secured Obligations.
“ABL Priority Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, it being agreed that after the Collateral Designation Date, so long as the Notes Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) remain outstanding and the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, the Specified Collateral shall be deemed to constitute Notes Priority Collateral instead of ABL Priority Collateral.
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“ABR”, when used in reference to (a) a rate of interest, refers to the Alternate Base Rate, and (b) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
“Account” means (a) “accounts” as defined in the UCC or in the PPSA, as applicable and (b) with respect to Accounts of a UK Loan Party, a “Book Debt” as that term is defined in any UK Security Agreement.
“Account Debtor” means any Person obligated on an Account.
“Acquired Entity or Business” shall mean either (x) the assets constituting a business, division, product line, manufacturing facility or distribution facility of any Person not already a Subsidiary of the Company, which assets shall, as a result of the respective acquisition, become assets of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (or assets of a Person who shall be merged or amalgamated with and into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) or (y) a majority of the Equity Interests of any such Person, which Person shall, as a result of the respective acquisition, become a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (or shall be merged or amalgamated with and into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company).
“Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate plus (b) 0.25%; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Administrative Agent” means Ares, in its capacity as administrative agent, security trustee and collateral agent for the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, or as applicable, such affiliates of Ares as it shall from time to time designate for the purpose of performing its obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents in such capacities, and in each case such Person’s successors in such capacities as provided in Article VIII.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire 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 a specified Person, another Person that directly or indirectly Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“Agent Fee Letter” means the Agent Fee Letter dated as of the Effective Date, by and between the Company and the Administrative Agent.
“Agent’s Account” means the Deposit Account of the Administrative Agent identified in writing by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower Representative and the Lenders from time to time.
“Agent Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(c).
“Aggregate Borrowing Base” means (i) the U.S. Borrowing Base plus (ii) the Canadian Borrowing Base plus (iii) each German Borrowing Base plus (iv) each Swiss Borrowing Base; provided that not more than 35% of the Aggregate Borrowing Base (excluding clause (d) of the U.S. Borrowing Base) shall consist of the Borrowing Bases referenced in the foregoing clauses (iii) through (iv) in the aggregate.
“Agreed Currencies” means Dollars.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, as modified, amended or restated from time to time.
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“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate in effect on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 3.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 3.00% for purposes of this Agreement.
“Amazon” means Amazon.com, Inc.
“AML Legislation” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.20.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrowers or their respective Affiliates from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, anti-money laundering or corruption.
“Applicable Commitment Fee Rate” means, on any day of determination, (a) 5.00% per annum with respect to the portion (if any) of the Unused Commitments on such day that exceeds 85% of the aggregate total Commitments on such day, and (b) 0.50% per annum with respect to the remaining portion of the Unused Commitments on such day. By way of example, if the aggregate total Commitments equal $10,000,000, and the Unused Commitments equals $9,000,000, then the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate will be 5.00% per annum with respect to $500,000 of the Unused Commitments and 0.50% per annum with respect to the remaining $8,500,000 of the Unused Commitments.
“Applicable Foreign Accounts Advance Rate” means, at any time of determination (a) prior to the Collateral Designation Date, 85%, or (b) following the Collateral Designation Date, 75%.
“Applicable Foreign Inventory Advance Rate” means, at any time of determination (a) prior to the Collateral Designation Date, (i) 90% respect to the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory or (ii) 80% with respect to the Cost of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory, or (b) following the Collateral Designation Date, (i) 80% respect to the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory or (ii) 70% with respect to the Cost of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory.
“Applicable Intercreditor Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.18(a).
“Applicable Parties” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.01(f).
“Applicable Percentage” means, for any Revolving Lender, a percentage equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the Commitment of such Revolving Lender, and the denominator of which is the aggregate Commitments of all the Revolving Lenders (or, if the aggregate Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentage shall be determined based upon such Revolving Lender’s share of the aggregate Revolving Exposure); provided that, for purposes of Section 2.20 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lender’s Commitments shall be disregarded in the calculations set forth above.
“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to (a) any Adjusted Term SOFR Rate Loan, 5.00% per annum, and (b) any ABR Loan, 4.00% per annum.
“Applicable Share” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.
“Applicable Senior Notes Trustee” means, with respect to the 2029 1L Indenture and 2029 1L Notes Documents and the 2029 2L Indenture and the 2029 2L Notes Documents, respectively, the applicable trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent thereunder, together with any of their respective successors or assigns in such capacities.
“Applicable U.S. Credit Card Accounts Advance Rate” means, at any time of determination (a) prior to the Collateral Designation Date, 100%, or (b) following the Collateral Designation Date, 90%.
“Applicable U.S. Accounts Advance Rate” means, at any time of determination (a) prior to the Collateral Designation Date, 90%, or (b) following the Collateral Designation Date, 80%.
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“Applicable U.S. Inventory Advance Rate” means, at any time of determination (a) prior to the Collateral Designation Date, (i) 100% respect to the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory or (ii) 80% with respect to the Cost of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory, or (b) following the Collateral Designation Date, (i) 90% respect to the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory or (ii) 70% with respect to the Cost of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory.
“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.01(d).
“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Ares” means ACF FINCO I LP, in its individual capacity, and its successors.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an Approved Electronic Platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Auditor’s Determination” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.24(c).
“Availability” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the Line Cap at such time minus (b) the total Credit Exposure of all Lenders at such time; provided that (i) at all times prior to the consummation of a Successful Exchange Transaction, at least 65% of Availability shall consist of U.S. Availability and Canadian Availability, and (ii) at all times following the consummation of a Successful Exchange Transaction, “Availability” shall mean the sum of U.S. Availability plus Canadian Availability.
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the aggregate Commitments.
“Average Life” means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness, the quotient obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) from the date of determination to the date of such payment; by
(2) the sum of the amounts of all such payments.
“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).
“Banking Services” means automated clearinghouse transaction services, in-transit cash services and foreign exchange Swap Agreements, in each case provided to any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or any other bank acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.
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“Banking Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Loan Parties or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), in connection with Banking Services.
“Banking Services Reserves” means all Reserves that the Administrative Agent from time to time establishes in its Permitted Discretion for Banking Services then provided or Banking Services Obligations then outstanding.
“Bankruptcy Code” means title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.
“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets appointed for it (including any corporate law or other law permitting a Person to obtain a stay of proceedings or compromise of claims of its creditors against it), or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such case or proceeding or appointment or has had an order for relief in such case or proceeding entered in respect thereof, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, unless such ownership interest results in or provides such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, England or Wales or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
“Basel II” shall mean the “International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards, a Revised Framework” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in June 2004.
“Basel III” means (a) the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in “Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems”, “Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring” and “Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated; (b) the rules for global systemically important banks contained in “Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement – Rules text” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and (c) any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to “Basel III”.
“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan in any Agreed Currency, the applicable Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the applicable Relevant Rate or the then-current Benchmark for such Agreed Currency, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (d) of Section 2.14.
“Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time in the United States and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment. If the Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“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 Representative giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a
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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 Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (ii) 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 syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Revolving Loan, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Business Day”, 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 notices, 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 and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides 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 such Benchmark 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 Loan Documents).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such 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
(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.
For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) above with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such 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 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);
(2) 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), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, the Term SOFR Administrator, the central bank for the Agreed Currency applicable to such Benchmark, 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 administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide 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
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(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) announcing that such Benchmark (or such component thereof) is no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.
For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Transition Start Date” means, in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (a) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (b) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than ninety (90) days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication).
“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“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.
“Blocking Regulation” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.07(b).
“Borrower” or “Borrowers” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Borrower Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.01.
“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type and currency, made on the same date, (b) a Protective Advance or (c) an Overadvance.
“Borrowing Base” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the U.S. Borrowing Base, the Canadian Borrowing Base, each Swiss Borrowing Base and each German Borrowing Base.
“Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate, signed and certified as accurate and complete by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative, in substantially the form of Exhibit B (with such changes thereto as may be required by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion from time to time to reflect the components of and reserves against the Borrowing Base as provided for hereunder) or another form that is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.
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“Borrowing Base Reporting Date” means the last day of each Fiscal Month of the Company; provided that during any Weekly Reporting Period, the last day of each week will also be a Borrowing Base Reporting Date.
“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower Representative for a Borrowing of Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.03, which shall be, in the case of any such written request, in the form of Exhibit C or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that the term “Business Day” shall also exclude (a) when used in connection with any Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars, any day that is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, (b) when used in connection with any Canadian Loan, any day which shall be in Toronto, Ontario a legal holiday or a day on which commercial banks in Toronto, Canada are authorized or required by law to remain closed, (c) when used in connection with any German Loan, any day which shall be in London or Frankfurt a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or other government action to close in London or Frankfurt, as applicable, (d) used in connection with any Swiss Loan, any day on which shall be in London or Zurich a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or other government action to close in London or Zurich, as applicable, and (e) any day that the Administrative Agent’s chief executive office is closed.
“Canada” means the country of Canada and any province or territory thereof.
“Canadian Availability” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the Canadian Line Cap at such time minus (b) the total Canadian Credit Exposure of all Lenders at such time.
“Canadian Blocked Person” means any Person whose property or interests in property are blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to, or as described in, any Canadian Economic Sanctions and Export Control Laws.
“Canadian Borrowers” means Fossil Canada and each other Canadian Subsidiary that becomes party to this Agreement as a Canadian Borrower after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.03(b).
“Canadian Borrowing Base” means, at any time (without duplication), the Dollar Equivalent amount of the sum of:
(a) the lesser of (x) the product of (i) the Applicable Foreign Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory of the Canadian Borrowers at such time and (y) the product of (i) the Applicable Foreign Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Cost of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory of the Canadian Borrowers; provided that In-Transit Inventory shall not comprise more than 20% of the total amount of this clause (a), plus
(b) the product of (i) the Applicable Foreign Accounts Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Eligible Accounts of the Canadian Borrowers at such time, minus
(c) without duplication, Reserves established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.
The Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion and with no less than two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower Representative (other than during a Dominion Period, in which case notice shall not be required), establish or adjust Reserves used in computing the Canadian Borrowing Base; provided, that (i) no such notice shall be required to reduce any Reserve or to increase any Reserve resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of the amount thereof in accordance with methodology previously established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and (ii) regardless of whether such notice is required, such new or increased Reserve shall be deemed to be in effect immediately for purposes of determining the Revolving Exposure Limitations with respect to any requested Borrowing or other credit extension. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence and the other provisions hereof expressly permitting the Administrative Agent to adjust the Canadian Borrowing Base, the Canadian Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
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Any changes after the Effective Date in how the applicable Loan Parties value their Inventory in accordance with their historical practices prior to the Effective Date shall be subject to the reasonable approval of the Administrative Agent.
“Canadian Collateral” means any and all property of any Canadian Loan Party covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Canadian Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become, or is intended to be or become, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations.
“Canadian Credit Exposure” means, as to any Revolving Lender at any time, the Dollar Equivalent of the sum of (a) such Revolving Lender’s Canadian Revolving Exposure plus (b) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount of Canadian Overadvances and Canadian Protective Advances outstanding.
“Canadian Defined Benefit Plan” means a Canadian Pension Plan, which contains a “defined benefit provision”, as defined in subsection 147.1(1) of the ITA.
“Canadian Dollars” and “Cdn.$” means dollars in the lawful currency of Canada.
“Canadian Economic Sanctions and Export Control Laws” means any Canadian laws, regulations or orders governing transactions in controlled goods or technologies or dealings with countries, entities, organizations, or individuals subject to economic sanctions and similar measures.
“Canadian Guarantee” means Article XI of this Agreement.
“Canadian Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01.
“Canadian Guarantor” means each Canadian Borrower (solely with respect to its Obligations arising pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof) and each Canadian Subsidiary that is listed on the signature pages hereto as a Canadian Guarantor or that becomes a party hereto as a Canadian Guarantor pursuant to Section 5.03, in each case, until such Subsidiary’s Canadian Guarantee is released in accordance herewith.
“Canadian Line Cap” means, as of any date of determination thereof by the Administrative Agent, an amount equal to the least of (i) the total Commitments then in effect, (ii) $5,000,000 and (iii) the Canadian Borrowing Base.
“Canadian Loan Parties” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the Canadian Borrowers and each Canadian Guarantor.
“Canadian Loans” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the Canadian Revolving Loans, the Canadian Protective Advances and the Canadian Overadvances.
“Canadian Obligated Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.02.
“Canadian Overadvance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(c).
“Canadian Overadvance Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Canadian Overadvances at such time. The Canadian Overadvance Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Canadian Overadvance Exposure at such time.
“Canadian Pension Plans” means any “registered pension plan” as defined under Section 248(l) of the ITA or which is registered under Canadian federal or provincial pension legislation and which is sponsored, maintained, funded, contributed to or required to be contributed to, or administered for the Canadian employees or former Canadian employees of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, other than plans established by statute, including the Canada Pension Plan maintained by the government of Canada and the Quebec Pension Plan maintained by the Province of Quebec.
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“Canadian Protective Advance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Canadian Protective Advance Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Canadian Protective Advances at such time. The Canadian Protective Advance Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Canadian Protective Advance Exposure at such time.
“Canadian Revolving Exposure” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, the outstanding principal amount of Canadian Revolving Loans of such Revolving Lender at such time.
“Canadian Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Loan made by the Revolving Lenders to the Canadian Borrowers.
“Canadian Security Agreements” means, collectively, that certain Canadian Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Canadian Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, the Quebec Security Documents, and, as the context requires, any other pledge or security agreement entered into after the Effective Date by any other Canadian Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Canadian Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company that has been formed or is organized under the laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof.
“Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of the Company and the Subsidiaries that are (or would be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that the term “Capital Expenditures” shall not include (i) expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets to the extent financed with (x) insurance proceeds paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced, restored or repaired or (y) awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced, (ii) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time, (iii) the purchase of plant, property or equipment or software to the extent financed with the net proceeds of any Disposition (including by way of merger or consolidation) of any asset of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any sale or issuance to a Person other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Equity Interests in any Subsidiary, but excluding sales of Inventory, Accounts or Payment Intangibles, (iv) expenditures that constitute rental expenses under operating leases of real or personal property, (v) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and that actually are paid for by a Person other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and for which neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such Person or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period), (vi) the book value of any asset owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a capital expenditure during such period as a result of such Person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually having been made in such period; provided that (x) any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused shall be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period in which such expenditure actually is made and (y) such book value shall have been included in Capital Expenditures when such asset was originally acquired, or (vii) expenditures that constitute Permitted Acquisitions.
“Capital Impairment” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.24(a).
“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases or financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
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“Cash Equivalents” means:
(a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States Government, the Government of Canada, the UK government, the French government or the Hong Kong government or issued by an agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, the Government of Canada, the UK government, the French government or the Hong Kong government, as the case may be, in each case maturing within two years after the date of acquisition thereof;
(b) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America, or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof, by the Canadian federal government, by the UK government, by the French government or by the Hong Kong government, in each case, maturing within two years after the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, then from such other nationally recognized rating agency acceptable to the Administrative Agent).
(c) commercial paper maturing no more than nine months after the date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at least A-2 or P-2 from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Moody’s shall be rating such obligations, then the highest rating from such other nationally recognized rating services acceptable to the Administrative Agent);
(d) certificates of deposit or bankers acceptances denominated in US Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euro or Hong Kong Dollars and maturing within ninety (90) days after the date of acquisition thereof issued by any Lender or any other commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, Canada, the UK, France or Hong Kong, in each case having combined capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof);
(e) repurchase agreements of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, Canada, the UK, France or Hong Kong, in each case having combined capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof);
(f) overnight investments with the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, Canada, the UK, France or Hong Kong, in each case having combined capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof);
(g) other readily marketable instruments issued or sold by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, Canada, the UK, France or Hong Kong, in each case having combined capital and surplus of not less than $250,000,000 (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof); and
(h) funds invested in brokerage accounts with nationally recognized brokerage houses or money market accounts, in each case for less than thirty (30) days.
“Cash Flow Forecast” means a thirteen (13) week budget prepared by the Company, in the form approved by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion, and initially furnished to the Administrative Agent on or before the Effective Date, as the same shall thereafter be updated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time as provided in Section 5.29. The initial Cash Flow Forecast shall commence as of the week ended August 8, 2025. The Cash Flow Forecast shall include a weekly cash budget, including information on a line item basis as to
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(a) projected cash receipts, including from asset sales, (b) projected operating and non-operating disbursements (including separate line items for ordinary course operating expenses, capital expenditures and any other fees and expenses relating to the Loan Documents), (c) projected net cash flow, and (d) projected total liquidity (including Availability) and projected calculations of each Borrowing Base.
“CFC” means each Person that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Code.
“CFC Holdco” means a Domestic Subsidiary with no material assets other than equity interests of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.
“Change in Control” means (a) an event or series of events by which any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a “person” or “group” shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of more than forty percent (40%) of the equity securities of the Company entitled to vote in the election of members of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Company or (b) a Change of Control under (and as defined in) the 2029 1L Indenture or the 2029 2L Indenture.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Effective Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption of or taking effect of any rule, regulation, treaty or other law, (b) any change in any rule, regulation, treaty or other law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law, but if not having the force of law, which are generally complied with) by any Governmental Authority; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or any European equivalent regulations (such as the European Market and Infrastructure Regulations and other regulations related thereto), and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) 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 the United States or foreign regulatory authorities and all applicable laws implementing CRR, CRR II, CRR III, Basel II, Basel III and Reformed Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued.
“Charges” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.16.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral” means the Canadian Collateral, the European Collateral and the U.S. Collateral, and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become, or is intended to be or become, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure any of the Obligations.
“Collateral Access Agreement” means an agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent executed by a lessor, bailee, warehouseman or other Person in possession of Collateral, or any lessor (and any mortgagee, if applicable) of real estate leased by any Loan Party.
“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, the requirement that:
(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received from the Company and each Subsidiary that is a Designated Subsidiary or that the Borrower Representative elects to become a Borrower pursuant to Section 5.03, either (i) (A) in the case of the Company and each such Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Agreement, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement and the U.S. Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (B) in the case of the Canadian Borrowers and each such Subsidiary that is a Canadian Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Agreement, the Intercompany
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Subordination Agreement, and the applicable Canadian Security Agreements, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (C) [reserved], (D) in the case of each German Borrower and each such Subsidiary that is a German Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Agreement, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement and the applicable German Security Agreements and, with respect to its Concentration Accounts and/or Collection Accounts in England and Wales (if any), the applicable UK Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (E) [reserved], or (F) in the case of each Swiss Borrower and each such Subsidiary that is a Swiss Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Agreement, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, the applicable Swiss Security Agreements, and the applicable German Security Agreements with respect to its Inventory located in Germany and, with respect to its Concentration Accounts and/or Collection Accounts in England and Wales (if any), the applicable UK Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, or (G) in the case of each UK Loan Party and each such Subsidiary that is a UK Subsidiary, a counterpart of this Agreement, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement and the applicable UK Security Agreements, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, or (ii) in the case of any Person that becomes a Designated Subsidiary or a Borrower after the Effective Date, (A) a Joinder Agreement (or, in the case of a Subsidiary that becomes a Borrower, any other joinder agreement to this Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, (B) instruments in the form or forms specified in the applicable Security Agreement under which such Person becomes a party to the applicable Security Agreement (or, if applicable, new Collateral Documents), duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person, together with such documents and opinions with respect to such Designated Subsidiary as may reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent and (C) all documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent regarding such Designated Subsidiary as may be required to comply with the applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act, or (H) in the case of each Dutch Loan Party, the applicable Dutch Security Agreements;
(b) subject to Section 5.18, the Administrative Agent shall have received all such Collateral Access Agreements, Control Agreements and other Collateral Documents required to be provided to it hereunder or under the applicable Security Agreement, duly executed by the parties thereto and evidence that all Credit Card Notifications required to be provided pursuant to Section 5.16 have been provided;
(c) all Equity Interests of each Loan Party (other than the Company), which Equity Interests shall be held directly by another Loan Party, and all Equity Interests owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party shall have been pledged pursuant to the applicable Security Agreement or, solely with respect to the Equity Interests of any Loan Party (other than the Equity Interests of a Canadian Loan Party owned by a U.S. Loan Party), a pledge agreement governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Loan Party is organized and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and, in the case of Equity Interests entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in any CFC or CFC Holdco, in each case, that is an Excluded Subsidiary, owned directly by a U.S. Loan Party, such U.S. Loan Party’s pledge of Equity Interests entitled to vote in any such CFC or CFC Holdco to secure the U.S. Obligations shall be limited to 65% of such voting Equity Interests (and 100% of non-voting Equity Interests), and the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent required by the applicable Collateral Document, have received certificates or other instruments representing all such certificated Equity Interests, together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;
(d) all Indebtedness of the Company and any Subsidiary that is owing to any Loan Party and in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or more and all Indebtedness of any other Person in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or more shall be evidenced by a promissory note and shall have been pledged pursuant to the applicable Security Agreement, and the Administrative Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank; ~~and~~
(e) all documents and instruments, including UCC financing statement and PPSA registrations, required by the Collateral Documents or this Agreement with the priority required by the Collateral Documents shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Administrative Agent for filing, registration or recording~~.~~; and
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(f) with respect to any Material Real Property owned by any Loan Party in the United States on the First Amendment Effective Date or acquired by any Loan Party in the United States after the First Amendment Effective Date (individually and collectively, the “Premises”), by the First Amendment Effective Date or within thirty (30) days following the date of acquisition (which period may be extended by the Administrative Agent), as applicable:
(i) the Company or such other Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, as mortgagee or beneficiary, as applicable, for the ratable benefit of itself and the Secured Parties, counterparts of each Mortgage with respect to each such Premises, in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement and/or the Collateral Documents, duly executed by the Company or such other Loan Party, suitable for recording in all recording offices that the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary to create a valid and enforceable mortgage lien (and to perfect such lien) at the time of recordation thereof, with the priority required by this Agreement, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements;
(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a mortgagee’s title insurance policy insuring (or committing to insure) in favor of the Administrative Agent, and its successors and/or assigns, in the form necessary, with respect to the property purported to be covered by the applicable Mortgage, to insure that the interest created by such Mortgage constitutes valid mortgage liens on the applicable Premises, with the priority required by this Agreement, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements, free and clear of all Liens, defects and encumbrances, other than Permitted Liens. Any such title policy shall be in amounts equal to the estimated fair market value of the Premises covered thereby, and such policies shall also include, to the extent available, all such customary endorsements and reinsurance as are available in the applicable jurisdiction which are available at commercially reasonable rates in the jurisdiction where the applicable Premises is located; and
(iii) the Company or such other Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent with respect to such Premises, surveys of each Premises, local counsel opinions, along with such other documents, instruments, certificates and agreements, and any other documents necessary to comply with clauses (i) and (ii) above and as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and the provisions of Section 5.03, any Designated Subsidiary formed or acquired after the Effective Date shall not be required to comply with the foregoing requirements prior to the time specified in Section 5.03. The foregoing definition and the provisions of Section 5.03 shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or, subject to the requirements of applicable law, flood insurance, legal opinions, appraisals, surveys or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets of the Loan Parties, or the provision of Guarantees by any Subsidiary, if and for so long as the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Company, determines that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets, or obtaining such title insurance or flood insurance, legal opinions, appraisals, surveys or other deliverables in respect of such assets, or providing such Guarantees, shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom. The Administrative Agent may in its reasonable discretion, grant extensions of time for the creation and perfection of security interests in (including delivery of promissory notes as required by clause (d) above) or the obtaining of title insurance or, subject to the requirements of applicable law, flood insurance, legal opinions, appraisals, surveys or other deliverables with respect to particular assets or the provision of any Guarantee by any Subsidiary (including extensions beyond the Effective Date or in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Effective Date) where it determines that such action cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required to be accomplished by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents, it being acknowledged and agreed that Administrative Agent shall take the cooperation of and constraints upon third party providers into consideration when making such determination.
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“Collateral Designation” means, at any time after the consummation of a Successful Exchange Transaction and solely to the extent that the Notes Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) remain outstanding and the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, the occurrence of the following:
(a) the valid exercise of the Collateral Designation Option by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent on behalf of the participating Notes Claimholders (as each such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to Section 3.8(b) of the Intercreditor Agreement; or
(b) the Borrower Representative’s election, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, to designate the Specified Collateral as Notes Priority Collateral instead of ABL Priority Collateral.
“Collateral Designation Conditions” means:
(a) with respect to a Collateral Designation described in clause (a) of the definition thereof, the requirements to effect a Collateral Designation Date by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (as each such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) set forth in Section 3.8(b) of the Intercreditor Agreement (it is understood and agreed by each Loan Party that upon any effective consummation of a Collateral Designation by the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (as each such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), (x) all Eligible Intellectual Property shall be removed from the Borrowing Base and (y) the lower advance rates applicable following the Collateral Designation Date shall be effective, in each case, without any further action or consent of any Loan Party or any other Person); or
(b) with respect to a Collateral Designation described in clause (b) of the definition thereof, each of the following requirements: (i) the U.S. Borrowers shall repay the amount of the IP Advance then outstanding, (ii) the Borrower Representative shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an updated Borrowing Base Certificate, giving pro forma effect to such Collateral Designation (including (x) the removal of all Eligible Intellectual Property, and (y) the lower advance rates applicable following the Collateral Designation Date), demonstrating pro forma compliance with Section 6.12, and (iii) the Payment Conditions shall be satisfied with respect to such Collateral Designation and any related transactions in connection therewith.
“Collateral Designation Date” means, with respect to any Collateral Designation, the date that such Collateral Designation is consummated, provided that the Collateral Designation Conditions applicable thereto are satisfied on such date.
“Collateral Documents” means each Security Agreement, each Mortgage, each Collateral Access Agreement, each Credit Card Notification, each Control Agreement, each IP Security Agreement and each other document or instrument guaranteeing the payment of or granting or perfecting a Lien upon, or intending to grant or perfect a Lien upon, any assets of any Loan Party as security for the Secured Obligations.
“Collection Account” means a segregated Concentration Account established by any Loan Party solely for the purpose of receiving the proceeds of Accounts (and which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be used for general payment purposes).
“Commercial Letter of Credit” means a letter of credit or similar instrument (including a bank guarantee) that is (a) issued to provide for the payment of the purchase price for goods or services purchased by the Company or any Subsidiary and (b) intended to be drawn when such purchase price is due and payable and not merely upon the occurrence of a default or other contingency.
“Commitment” means, with respect to each Revolving Lender, the commitment of such Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum possible aggregate amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (a) Section 2.09 and (b) assignments by or to such Revolving Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The amount of each Revolving Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C) to which such Revolving Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. As of the Effective Date, the aggregate amount of the Commitments is $150,000,000.
“Commitment Reduction Fee” has the meaning assigned to it in the Fee Letter.
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“Commodity Account” has the meaning set forth in the applicable Security Agreement.
“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.
“Communications” means, collectively, any written notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein that is distributed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to Section 9.01, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Company Financial Advisor” means Alvarez & Marsal, as financial and restructuring advisor to the Loan Parties, or any other financial and/or restructuring advisor reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Compliance Certificate” means a Compliance Certificate in the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Concentration Account” means each Deposit Account maintained with a financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is subject to a Control Agreement (or, in the case of a European Loan Party, another arrangement with similar effect (including, but not limited to, a notice and acknowledgement)) pursuant to which the Administrative Agent is given sufficient access (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) to ensure that the provisions of Section 2.10(b) are capable of being complied with and to require the relevant account bank to follow the instructions of the Administrative Agent if instructions are given by it (without further consent of any Loan Party or other Person) and which is effective under applicable law to grant the Administrative Agent a perfected first priority security interest in such Deposit Account (subject to Permitted Liens); and in each case, including the Primary Concentration Accounts.
“Consolidated” means, when used with reference to financial statements or financial statement items of any Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of consolidation under GAAP.
“Consolidated Cash Interest Expense” means, for any period, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) the cash interest expense (including (x) imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (y) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and (z) net costs under Swap Agreements entered into to hedge interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any interest accrued during such period in respect of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is required to be capitalized rather than included in consolidated interest expense for such period in accordance with GAAP, plus (iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of obligations referred to in clause (b)(iii) below that were amortized or accrued in a previous period, minus (b) the sum of (i) interest income of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to amortization or write-off of capitalized interest or other financing costs paid in a previous period, plus (iii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to accretion or amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable in kind for such period.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP: (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (b) the sum of the following, without duplication, to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period: (i) income and franchise tax expense during such period, (ii) interest expense (including, without limitation, interest expense attributable to Capital Leases Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations and all net payment obligations pursuant to interest Swap Obligations), (iii) amortization, depreciation and other non-cash charges for such period (except to the extent that such non-cash charges are reserved for cash
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charges to be taken in the future), (iv) the amount of premium payments paid by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, and charges in respect of unamortized fees and expenses, in each case associated with the repayment of Indebtedness, (v) expenses relating to stock-based compensation plans resulting from the application of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123R, and (vi) one-time restructuring charges and reserves; provided that the aggregate amount added back pursuant to this clause (vi) (including in respect of the restructuring work performed by Alvarez & Marsal by their Consumer and Retail Group, but excluding one-time restructuring charges and reserves to the extent incurred on or before December 31, 2025 in connection with the consummation of the Exchange Transactions or effectiveness of this Agreement) for any period (x) ending on or prior to January 31, 2027 shall not exceed 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (prior to giving effect to any add-back pursuant to this clause (vi)) and (y) ending after January 31, 2027, shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (prior to giving effect to any add-back pursuant to this clause (vi)), minus (c) interest income for such period, minus (d) one-time income or gains for such period.
“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (a) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period, (b) cash principal payments on Indebtedness made or required to be made during such period, (c) expense for income taxes paid or required to be paid in cash during such period and (d) Restricted Payments paid in cash during such period pursuant to clauses (a)(~~iii~~vi), (a)(vii) and (~~a~~b)(~~vii~~i ) of Section 6.08.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP; provided that, in calculating Consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the net income (or loss) of any Person (other than the Company) that is not a Restricted Subsidiary except to the extent such net income is actually paid in cash to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by dividend or other distribution during such period, (b) the net income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except to the extent included pursuant to the foregoing clause (a), and (c) the net income (if positive), of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of such net income (i) is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary or (ii) would be subject to any taxes payable on such dividends or distributions.
“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.
“Control Agreement” means, with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account of a Loan Party, (a) a “springing” control agreement, executed and delivered by such Loan Party, Administrative Agent, the applicable securities intermediary (with respect to a Securities Account) or bank (with respect to a Deposit Account) and, to the extent permitted and agreed to by such securities intermediary or bank, the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) or (b) for such accounts not located in the United States, an analogous document used for equivalent purposes under comparable law of such jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, a security notice), in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and with respect to Deposit Accounts under German law, (x) any agreement to be entered into between the respective Borrower as account holder, the Administrative Agent and the respective account bank and, to the extent permitted and agreed to by such account bank, the Controlling Notes Collateral Agent (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), or (y) a notice of pledge to be served on the respective account bank and the corresponding acknowledgement, granting sole disposal rights in favor of the Administrative Agent, in each case reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Corresponding Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.10(b)(ii).
“Cost” means, with respect to any Inventory, the lower of cost or market value of such Inventory, based upon the Loan Parties’ accounting practices, known to the Administrative Agent, which practices are consistent with the methodology used in the most recent Inventory appraisal delivered in connection with this Agreement prior to the Effective Date or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. “Cost” does not include inventory capitalization costs or other non-purchase price charges (such as freight or duty) used in the Loan Parties’ calculation of cost of goods sold.
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“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).
“Credit Card Accounts Receivable” means any receivables due to any U.S. Loan Party from a credit card issuer or a credit card processor in connection with purchases of Inventory of such U.S. Loan Party on (a) credit cards issued by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Wells Fargo, each of their respective Affiliates, and any other credit card issuers that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (b) [reserved] or (c) debit cards and mall cards issued by issuers or providers that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in each case which have been earned by performance by such U.S. Loan Party but not yet paid to such U.S. Loan Party by such credit card issuer or credit card processor.
“Credit Card Agreement” means any agreement between a U.S. Loan Party, on the one hand, and a credit card issuer or a credit card processor (including any credit card processor that processes purchases of Inventory from a U.S. Loan Party through debit cards or mall cards), on the other hand.
“Credit Card Notifications” means each Credit Card Notification, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executed by one or more U.S. Loan Parties and delivered by such U.S. Loan Parties to credit card issuers or credit card processors that are party to any Credit Card Agreement.
“Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) such Lender’s U.S. Credit Exposure plus (b) such Lender’s Canadian Credit Exposure plus (c) such Lender’s European Credit Exposure.
“CRR” means either CRR-EU or, as the context may require, CRR-UK.
“CRR-EU” means regulation 575/2013 of the European Union on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms and regulation 2019/876 of the European Union amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 and all delegated and implementing regulations supplementing that Regulation.
“CRR-UK” means CRR-EU as amended and transposed into the laws of the United Kingdom by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 and as amended by the Capital Requirements (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
“CRR II” means either CRR II-EU or, as the context may require, CRR II-UK.
“CRR II-EU” means regulation 2019/876 amending CRR-EU as regards the leverage ratio, the net stable funding ratio, requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities, counterparty credit risk, market risk, exposures to central counterparties, exposures to collective investment undertakings, large exposures, reporting and disclosure requirements, and Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 and all delegated and implementing regulations supplementing that Regulation.
“CRR II-UK” means CRR II-EU as amended and transposed into the laws of the United Kingdom by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 and as amended by the Capital Requirements (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
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“CRR III” means Regulation (EU) 2024/1623 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2024 amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 as regards requirements for credit risk, credit valuation adjustment risk, operational risk, market risk and the output floor.
“Debt Maturity Reserve” means a Reserve in an amount equal to the then outstanding principal amount of any Indebtedness referred to in clause (ii) of the proviso to the definition of “Maturity Date”, which Debt Maturity Reserve shall remain in place (but, in each case, shall be reduced to give effect to any payments, repayments or redemptions of any such Indebtedness made thereafter to the extent such payments, repayments or redemptions are permitted hereunder) until the earlier of the repayment of such Indebtedness or the extension of the scheduled maturity date of such Indebtedness to a date which is at least ninety-one (91) days after the Scheduled Maturity Date.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender, as determined by the Administrative Agent, that has (a) failed to fund any portion of its Loans or participations in Letters of Credit, Protective Advances or Overadvances within three Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) notified any Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit, Protective Advances or Overadvances, (d) otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (e)(i) become or is insolvent or has a parent company that has become or is insolvent, (ii) become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding under any Insolvency Laws or otherwise, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such case or proceeding or appointment or has a parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding under any Insolvency Laws or otherwise, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such case or proceeding or appointment or (iii) has become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority 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) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.
“Defaulting Lender Rate” means (a) for the first three (3) days from and after the date the relevant payment is due, in the case of amounts denominated in Dollars, the Alternate Base Rate, and (b) thereafter, in the case of amounts denominated in Dollars, the interest rate then applicable to ABR Loans.
“Deposit Account” means each checking, savings or other demand deposit account maintained by any of the Loan Parties.
“Designated Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary other than any Excluded Subsidiary.
“Dilution” means, as of any date of determination, a percentage, based upon the experience of the appropriate prior period as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, that is the greater of (x) the dilution percentage as set forth in the most recent field examination conducted by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent and (y) the result of dividing the amount of (i) bad debt write-downs, discounts, advertising allowances, credits, or other dilutive items with respect to the applicable Loan Parties’ Accounts during such period, by (ii) the applicable Loan Parties’ billings with respect to such Accounts during such period.
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“Dilution Reserve” means, as of any date of determination, an amount sufficient to reduce the applicable advance rate against Eligible Accounts and/or Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable by the number of full or partial percentage points by which Dilution is in excess of (i) 2.5%, with respect to Accounts owing to U.S. Loan Parties, or (ii) 5%, with respect to all other Accounts.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise) of any property by any Person (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary of such 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.
“Disqualified Stock” means any Equity Interests 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, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, or requires the payment of any cash dividend or any other scheduled payment constituting a return of capital (other than any payment solely in Equity Interests (other than any Equity Interest referred to in this clause (a)), in each case at any time on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Scheduled Maturity Date, or (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) cash, (ii) debt securities or (iii) any Equity Interests referred to in (a) above, in each case at any time prior to the date that is 91 days after the Scheduled Maturity Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because holders of the Equity Interests have the right to require the issuer of such Equity Interests to repurchase such Equity Interests upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Equity Interests provide that the issuer may not repurchase or redeem any such Equity Interests pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption is permitted under the terms of this Agreement.
“Dividing Person” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Division”.
“Division” means the division of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations of a Person (the “Dividing Person”) among two or more Persons (whether pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar arrangement), which may or may not include the Dividing Person and pursuant to which the Dividing Person may or may not survive.
“Division Successor” means any Person that, upon the consummation of a Division of a Dividing Person, holds all or any portion of the assets, liabilities and/or obligations previously held by such Dividing Person immediately prior to the consummation of such Division (other than any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary to which any such assets are so transferred pursuant to clause (a)(v)(x)(2) of Section 6.03 in a Disposition permitted by Section 6.05). A Dividing Person which retains any of its assets, liabilities and/or obligations after a Division shall be deemed a Division Successor upon the occurrence of such Division.
“Document” has the meaning set forth in the U.S. Security Agreement.
“Dollar Equivalent” means, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, and (b) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.
“dollars”, “Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.
“Dominion Period” means any period (a) during which any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (b) during a Reduced Availability Period.
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“Dutch Collateral” means any and all property of any Dutch Loan Party covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Dutch Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become, or is intended to be or become, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations.
“Dutch Guarantee” means Article XII of this Agreement.
“Dutch Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.01.
“Dutch Guarantor” means each Dutch Subsidiary that becomes a party hereto as a Dutch Guarantor pursuant to Section 5.25 until such Subsidiary’s Dutch Guarantee is released in accordance herewith.
“Dutch Loan Party” means the Dutch Guarantor and any other Loan Party incorporated or organized in the Netherlands.
“Dutch Obligated Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.02.
“Dutch Security Agreements”: collectively (a) any deed of pledge (including any (supplemental) pledge of receivables entered into by any Dutch Loan Party in favour of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties governed by the laws of the Netherlands, and (b) each other Security Document governed by Dutch law.
“Dutch Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company that has been formed or is organized under the laws of the Netherlands.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any institution 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 institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Effective Date” means August 13, 2025.
“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.
“Electronic System” means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, web portal access for such Borrower and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank and any of its respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.
“Eligible Accounts” means, at any time, each Account that satisfies the following criteria at the time of creation and continues to meet the same at the time of such determination: such Account (i) has been earned by performance and represents the bona fide amounts due to a Loan Party and in each case is originated in the ordinary course of business of such Loan Party, and (ii) in each case is not ineligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (dd) below. Without limiting the foregoing, to qualify as an Eligible Account, such Account shall indicate no Person other than a Loan Party as payee or remittance party. Any Account included within any of the following categories shall not constitute an Eligible Account:
(a) which is not subject to a perfected first priority security interest (subject to any Liens specified in clause (b)(ii)(a) or clause (b)(iii) of this definition) in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Parties);
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(b) which is subject to any Lien, other than (i) Liens permitted under Section 6.02(a), (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance (a) for which appropriate Reserves (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion) have been established or (b) which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Parties), (iii) Permitted Liens in respect of Prior Claims that are unregistered and that secure amounts that are not yet due and payable and (iv) junior priority Permitted Liens that are subject to the Applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(c) (i) with respect to which the scheduled due date is more than 90 days after the date of the original invoice therefor, (ii) which is unpaid more than 90 days after the date of the original invoice therefor or more than 60 days after the original due date therefor or (iii) which has been written off the books of such Loan Party or otherwise designated as uncollectible;
(d) which is owing by an Account Debtor for which more than 50% of the Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates are ineligible pursuant to clause (c) above;
(e) which is owing by (i) an Account Debtor (other than Amazon or Zalando) to the extent the aggregate amount of Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates to all Loan Parties exceeds 10% of the aggregate amount of Eligible Accounts of all Loan Parties or (ii) Amazon or Zalando to the extent the aggregate amount of Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates to all Loan Parties exceeds 30% of the aggregate amount of Eligible Accounts of all Loan Parties;
(f) with respect to which any covenant contained in this Agreement or in the applicable Security Agreement has been breached (unless and until such breach is cured) in any material respect or any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or in the applicable Security Agreement is not true in any material respect;
(g) which (i) does not arise from the sale of goods or performance of services in the ordinary course of business, (ii) is not evidenced by an invoice or other documentation (the form of which is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) which has been sent to the Account Debtor, (iii) represents a progress billing, (iv) is contingent upon such Loan Party’s completion of any further performance, (v) represents a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval, consignment, cash-on-delivery or any other repurchase or return basis (other than return rights for defective goods or repairs available in the ordinary course of business) or (vi) relates solely to payments of interest;
(h) for which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped to the Account Debtor or for which the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by such Loan Party;
(i) with respect to which any check or other instrument of payment has been returned uncollected for any reason;
(j) which is owed by an Account Debtor which has (i) applied for, suffered, or consented to the appointment of any receiver, interim receiver, custodian, trustee, monitor, administrator or liquidator or similar official for such Account Debtor of its assets, (ii) had possession of all or a material part of its property taken by any receiver, interim receiver, custodian, trustee, monitor or liquidator, (iii) filed, or had filed against it, any assignment, application, request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, stay of proceedings, adjudication as bankrupt, winding-up, or voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under any state, provincial or federal bankruptcy laws or any other Insolvency Laws (other than post-petition accounts payable of an Account Debtor that is a debtor-in-possession under the Bankruptcy Code and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), (iv) admitted in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or (v) ceased operation of its business as a going concern;
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(k) which is owed by any Account Debtor which has sold all or substantially all of its assets;
(l) which in the case of (i) Accounts owing to a U.S. Borrower or Canadian Borrower is owed by an Account Debtor which (A) does not maintain its chief executive office in the U.S. or Canada (or its domicile, for the purposes of the Civil Code (Quebec)) or (B) is not organized under applicable law of the U.S., any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, or Canada or any province or territory thereof unless, in any such case, such Account is backed by a letter of credit acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is in the possession of, and is directly drawable by, the Administrative Agent or (ii) Accounts owing to a European Borrower, which is owed by an Account Debtor which is not incorporated or established in an Eligible Debtor Jurisdiction;
(m) which is owed in any currency other than (i) with respect to Accounts of the U.S. Loan Parties, Dollars or (ii) with respect to Accounts of a Foreign Borrower, Dollars, Euros or Canadian Dollars;
(n) which is owed by (i) any Governmental Authority of any country other than the U.S. or Canada unless such Account is backed by a Letter of Credit acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is in the possession of, and is directly drawable by, the Administrative Agent, or (ii) any Governmental Authority of the U.S. or Canada, or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof, unless the Financial Administration Act (Canada), as amended, (or the equivalent law of any province of Canada, if any, in the case of a Governmental Authority of such province) or the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727 et seq. and 41 U.S.C. § 15 et seq.), as applicable, and any other steps necessary to perfect the Lien of the Administrative Agent in such Account have been complied with to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction;
(o) which is owed by any Affiliate of any Loan Party or any employee, officer, or director of any Loan Party;
(p) which is owed by an Account Debtor or any Affiliate of such Account Debtor to which any Loan Party is indebted, but only to the extent of such indebtedness, or is subject to any security, deposit, progress payment, retainage or other similar advance made by or for the benefit of an Account Debtor, in each case to the extent thereof;
(q) which is subject to any counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute but only to the extent of any such counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute or which is subject to any netting or similar arrangements, including, with respect to German law governed Accounts, a current account arrangement (Kontokorrentabrede) with the respective Account Debtor;
(r) which is evidenced by any promissory note, chattel paper or instrument;
(s) which is owed by an Account Debtor (i) located in any jurisdiction which requires filing of a “Notice of Business Activities Report” or other similar report in order to permit such Loan Party to seek judicial enforcement in such jurisdiction of payment of such Account, unless (A) such Loan Party has filed such report or qualified to do business in such jurisdiction or (B) the Administrative Agent is satisfied in its Permitted Discretion in consultation with the Company that the failure to file such report and inability to seek judicial enforcement can be remedied without material delay or material cost or (ii) which is a Sanctioned Person;
(t) with respect to which such Loan Party has made any agreement with the Account Debtor for any reduction thereof, other than discounts and adjustments given in the ordinary course of business, but only to the extent of any such reduction, or any Account which was partially paid and such Loan Party created a new receivable for the unpaid portion of such Account;
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(u) which does not comply in all material respects with the requirements of all material applicable laws and regulations, whether Federal (U.S. or Canadian), state, provincial, territorial or local, including without limitation the U.S. Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, the U.S. Federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z of the Federal Reserve Board;
(v) which is for goods that have been sold under a purchase order or pursuant to the terms of a contract or other agreement or understanding (written or oral) that indicates or purports that any Person other than such Loan Party has or has had an ownership interest in such goods, or which indicates any party other than such Loan Party as payee or remittance party;
(w) which was created on cash on delivery terms;
(x) which is an Account of an Acquired Entity or Business acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment, until the completion of a field examination satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion with respect to such Accounts;
(y) which the Administrative Agent determines, in its Permitted Discretion, may not be paid by reason of the Account Debtor’s inability to pay;
(z) [reserved];
(aa) which, in respect of any European Borrower, is subject to any limitation on assignment or other restriction (whether arising by operation of law, by agreement or otherwise) which would, under the local governing law of the contract creating such Account, have the effect of restricting the assignment for or by way of security or the creation of security over such Account generally, in each case unless (i) the applicable account debtor has waived such restrictions, or (ii) such restriction does not affect or impair the validity of the security interest with respect to such Account or (iii) the Administrative Agent has determined that such limitation is not enforceable;
(bb) as to which the contract or agreement underlying such Account is governed by (or, if no governing law is expressed therein, is deemed to be governed by) the laws of any jurisdiction other than in the case of any European Borrower, any Eligible Contract Jurisdictions (European Borrowers);
(cc) with respect to which, in the case of Accounts owed by an Account Debtor which (i) does not maintain its chief executive office in the U.S. or Canada (or its domicile, for the purposes of the Civil Code (Quebec)) or (ii) is not organized under applicable law of the U.S., any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, or Canada or any province or territory thereof, such Account does not satisfy at least one of the following conditions: (x) the Account Debtor with respect thereto, or any parent thereof, has a credit rating of BBB- or Baa3 or higher as determined by S&P or Moody’s, as applicable, or (y) such Account is either backed by a letter of credit acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is in the possession of, and is directly drawable by, the Administrative Agent, or is supported by credit insurance acceptable to the Administrative Agent; and
(dd) which the Administrative Agent otherwise determines is unacceptable in its Permitted Discretion;
In the event that Accounts having an aggregate fair market value of $5,000,000 or more which were previously Eligible Accounts cease, to the actual knowledge of a Financial Officer of the Company, to be Eligible Accounts hereunder, the Borrower Representative shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) notify the Administrative Agent thereof and deliver an updated Borrowing Base Certificate to the Administrative Agent showing the Borrowing Base in effect after giving effect to the removal of any such Accounts from Eligible Accounts; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, upon receipt of such notice as set forth above, adjust the applicable Borrowing Base to reflect such change in Eligible Accounts. In determining the amount of an Eligible Account of a Loan Party, the face amount of an Account may, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i)
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the amount of all accrued and actual discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, price adjustments or finance charges (including any amount that such Loan Party may be obligated to rebate to an Account Debtor pursuant to the terms of any agreement or understanding (written or oral)) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Account but not yet applied by such Loan Party to reduce the amount of such Account.
“Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved Fund and (d) any other Person, other than, in each case, (i) a natural person or the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary, (iii) any other Affiliate of the Company or (iv) any Person (other than a regulated bank entity) that is, or whose Affiliate is, a holder of the 2026 Notes or the 2029 Notes; provided that, for purposes of determining eligibility in respect of the preceding clause (iv), the Administrative Agent and each Lender may rely conclusively (without further inquiry) on representations attesting to such condition made by the applicable assignee in the related Assignment and Assumption.
“Eligible Contract Jurisdictions (European Borrowers)” means each of Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, remove one or more of the countries comprising the Eligible Contract Jurisdictions (European Borrowers) and subsequently add one or more countries back as Eligible Contract Jurisdictions (European Borrowers).
“Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable” means at the time of any determination thereof, each Credit Card Accounts Receivable that satisfies the following criteria at the time of creation and continues to meet the same at the time of such determination: such Credit Card Accounts Receivable (i) has been earned by performance and represents the bona fide amounts due to a U.S. Loan Party from a credit card issuer or credit card processor, and in each case is originated in the ordinary course of business of such U.S. Loan Party, and (ii) in each case is not ineligible for inclusion in the calculation of the Borrowing Base pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (p) below. Without limiting the foregoing, to qualify as an Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable, such Credit Card Accounts Receivable shall indicate no Person other than a U.S. Loan Party as payee or remittance party. In determining the amount to be so included, the face amount of a Credit Card Accounts Receivable may, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all accrued and actual fees and charges due to the credit card issuer or credit card processor, discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that a U.S. Loan Party may be obligated to rebate to a customer, a credit card issuer or credit card processor pursuant to the terms of any agreement or understanding) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Credit Card Accounts Receivable but not yet applied by the U.S. Loan Parties to reduce the amount of such Credit Card Accounts Receivable. Any Credit Card Accounts Receivable included within any of the following categories shall not constitute an Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable:
(a) which is not earned or does not represent the bona fide amount due to a U.S. Loan Party from a credit card processor or a credit card issuer that originated in the ordinary course of business of the applicable U.S. Loan Party;
(b) which is not owned by a U.S. Loan Party or to which a U.S. Loan Party does not have good or marketable title;
(c) in which the payee of such Credit Card Account Receivable is a Person other than a U.S. Loan Party;
(d) which does not constitute an “Account” (as defined in the UCC or the PPSA) or a Payment Intangible;
(e) which has been outstanding for more than five Business Days from the date of sale;
(f) with respect to which the applicable credit card issuer, credit card processor or debit card or mall card issuer or provider has (i) applied for, suffered, or consented to the appointment of any receiver, interim receiver, custodian, trustee, monitor, administrator, sequestrator or liquidator of its assets, (ii) has had
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possession of all or a material part of its property taken by any receiver, interim receiver, custodian, trustee, monitor, administrator, sequestrator or liquidator, (iii) filed, or had filed against it (but only so long as any such involuntary filing has not been stayed or vacated), any request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as bankrupt, winding-up, or voluntary or involuntary case under any state, provincial, territorial or federal bankruptcy laws, (iv) has admitted in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due or (v) ceased operation of its business as a going concern;
(g) which is not a valid, legally enforceable obligation of the applicable credit card issuer or credit card processor with respect thereto;
(h) which is not subject to a perfected first priority security interest (subject to any Liens specified in clause (i)(ii)(a) or clause (i)(iii) below) in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Parties);
(i) which is subject to any Lien, other than (i) Liens permitted under Section 6.02(a), (ii) any Permitted Encumbrances (a) which are contemplated by the applicable processor agreements and for which appropriate Reserves (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion) have been established or (b) which do not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Parties), (iii) Permitted Liens in respect of Prior Claims that are unregistered and secure amounts that are not yet due and payable and (iv) junior priority Permitted Liens that are subject to the Applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(j) with respect to which (i) any covenant has been breached (unless and until such breach is cured) in any material respect or (ii) any representation or warranty is not true in any material respects, in each case to the extent contained in this Agreement, the applicable Security Agreement or in the credit card agreements relating to such Credit Card Account Receivable; provided that each such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects to the extent already qualified by a materiality standard;
(k) which is evidenced by “chattel paper” or an “instrument” of any kind unless such “chattel paper” or “instrument” is in the possession of the Administrative Agent, and to the extent necessary or appropriate, endorsed to the Administrative Agent;
(l) which the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion determines may not be paid by reason of the applicable credit card processor’s, credit card issuer’s or debit card or mall card issuer’s or provider’s inability to pay;
(m) which represents a deposit or partial payment in connection with the purchase of Inventory of such U.S. Loan Party;
(n) which is not subject to a Credit Card Notification;
(o) which is a Credit Card Accounts Receivable of an Acquired Entity or Business acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment, until the completion of a field examination satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion with respect to such Credit Card Accounts Receivable; or
(p) which the Administrative Agent otherwise determines is unacceptable in its Permitted Discretion.
In the event that a Financial Officer of the Company has actual knowledge that (a) any credit card issuer, credit card processor or debit card or mall card issuer or provider with respect to Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable ceases to comply with the requirements of clause (f) above or (b) Credit Card Accounts Receivable having an aggregate fair market value of $2,500,000 or more which were previously Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable otherwise cease to be Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable hereunder, the applicable U.S. Loan Party or the Borrower Representative shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) notify the Administrative
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Agent thereof and deliver an updated Borrowing Base Certificate to the Administrative Agent showing the Borrowing Base in effect after giving effect to the removal of any such Credit Card Accounts Receivable from Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, upon receipt of such notice as set forth above, adjust the applicable Borrowing Base to reflect such change in Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable.
“Eligible Debtor Jurisdiction” means each of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, remove one or more of the countries comprising the Eligible Debtor Jurisdictions and subsequently add one or more countries back as Eligible Debtor Jurisdictions.
“Eligible Finished Goods Inventory” means, as of the date of determination thereof, without duplication, items of Inventory of a Loan Party that are finished goods, merchantable and readily saleable in the ordinary course of the Loan Parties’ business, in each case that is not excluded as ineligible by virtue of one or more of the criteria set forth below. The following items of Inventory shall not be included in Eligible Finished Goods Inventory:
(a) which is not subject to a perfected first priority Lien (subject to any Liens specified in clause (b)(ii)(a) or clause (b)(iii) of this definition) in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Parties) which is governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Inventory in question is located or, in respect of Inventory which is in-transit in accordance with clause (h) of this definition, the laws of the jurisdiction to which the Inventory is in-transit;
(b) which is subject to any Lien other than (i) Liens permitted under Section 6.02(a), (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance (a) for which appropriate Reserves (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion) have been established or (b) which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Parties), (iii) Permitted Liens in respect of Prior Claims that are unregistered and secure amounts that are not yet due and payable, and (iv) junior priority Permitted Liens that are subject to the Applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(c) which is unmerchantable, defective, damaged or unfit for sale (as such terms are customarily used in the Loan Parties’ industry), or is not salable at prices approximating at least the cost of such Inventory in the ordinary course of business or is unacceptable due to age, type, category and/or quantity, in each case, consistent with the usage of such terms in the most recent inventory appraisal received by the Administrative Agent as contemplated hereby;
(d) with respect to which any covenant contained in this Agreement or in the applicable Security Agreement has been breached (unless and until such breach is cured) in any material respect or any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or the applicable Security Agreement has been breached in any material respect or is not true in any material respect or which does not conform in all material respects to all standards imposed by any applicable Governmental Authority;
(e) in which any Person other than such Loan Party shall (i) have any direct or indirect ownership, interest or title to such Inventory or (ii) be indicated on any purchase order or invoice with respect to such Inventory as having or purporting to have an interest therein;
(f) which consists of goods that are obsolete, slow moving, restrictive or custom items or otherwise is manufactured in accordance with customer-specific requirements, work-in-process, raw materials, or goods that constitute spare parts, packaging and shipping materials, supplies used or consumed in the Loan Parties’ business, bill and hold goods, defective goods, “seconds”, or Inventory acquired on consignment;
(g) which consist of goods held for sale at all retail, factory and outlet stores which are not located in the United States, Canada, Germany or England and Wales, provided that, subject to adjustment by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, (i) to the extent located in Germany, only up to $5,000,000 of such goods located in Germany shall be Eligible Finished Goods Inventory and (ii) to the extent located in England and Wales, only up to $2,500,000 of such goods located in England and Wales shall be Eligible Finished Goods Inventory;
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(h) which is not located in (i) the continental United States (with respect to Inventory owned by the U.S. Loan Parties), (ii) Germany (with respect to Inventory owned by the German Borrowers or the Swiss Borrowers), (iii) [reserved], (iv) [reserved] or (v) Canada (with respect to Inventory owned by the Canadian Borrowers), or which is in-transit, unless the Administrative Agent determines in its sole discretion to permit such in-transit Inventory to be included in the Borrowing Base (“In-Transit Inventory”), provided, that, (i)(x) for so long as such Inventory is in-transit (A) it complies with the criterion at clause (a) of this definition, (B) the Administrative Agent has received evidence of satisfactory casualty insurance naming the Administrative Agent as loss payee and otherwise covering such risks as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (C) the Administrative Agent has implemented a Reserve for the amount of duty and shipping costs including but not limited to any costs payable to the shipper or customs broker and (y) following the commencement of a Dominion Period, the Administrative Agent shall have received (1) a true and correct copy of the bill of lading and other shipping documents for such Inventory (and, if such Inventory is in transit outside the United States, such bill of lading is negotiable), and if requested by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent’s Lien shall be noted thereon, (2) confirmation that the applicable Loan Party has title to such Inventory (together with such evidence thereof as the Administrative Agent may from time to time require) and (3) if the bill of lading is (A) non-negotiable, a duly executed Collateral Access Agreement of other bailee agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent from the applicable customs broker, shipper or other Person acting in a similar capacity for such Inventory, or (B) negotiable, confirmation that the bill is issued in the name of such Loan Party and consigned to the order of the Administrative Agent, and a reasonably acceptable agreement has been executed with such Loan Party’s customs broker, shipper or other Person acting in a similar capacity, in which the customs broker, shipper or other Person agrees that it holds the negotiable bill as agent for the Administrative Agent and will follow instructions of the Administrative Agent with respect to the disposition thereof and of the goods, (ii) the common carrier is not an Affiliate of the applicable vendor or supplier and (iii) the customs broker or shipper is not an Affiliate of any Loan Party;
(i) which is located in any location leased by the applicable Loan Party unless (i) the lessor (and any mortgagee, if applicable) has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement or (ii) a Rent Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;
(j) which is located at an owned location subject to mortgage in favor of a Person other than the Administrative Agent, unless the mortgagee is party to the Intercreditor Agreement or has delivered a Collateral Access Agreement or other mortgagee agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;
(k) which is located in any third-party warehouse or is in the possession of a bailee (other than a third party processor) and is not evidenced by a Document, unless (i) such warehouseman or bailee has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may require or (ii) an appropriate Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;
(l) which is being processed offsite at a third-party location or outside processor, or is in-transit to or from said third party location or outside processor;
(m) which is the subject of a consignment by a Loan Party as consignor;
(n) which contains or bears any intellectual property rights licensed to a Loan Party unless the Administrative Agent is satisfied in its Permitted Discretion that it may sell or otherwise Dispose of such Inventory without (i) infringing the rights of such licensor, (ii) violating any contract with such licensor or (iii) incurring any liability with respect to payment of royalties other than royalties incurred pursuant to sale of such Inventory under the current licensing agreement;
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(o) which is not reflected in a current perpetual inventory report of the applicable Loan Party (unless such Inventory is reflected in a report to the Administrative Agent as “in transit” Inventory);
(p) for which reclamation rights have been asserted by the seller;
(q) for which such Person does not have actual and exclusive possession thereof (either directly or through a bailee or agent of such Person);
(r) which is stored at locations holding less than $25,000 of the aggregate value of such Loan Party’s Inventory;
(s) (i) which is subject to retention of title rights in favor of the vendor or supplier thereof or, (ii) in relation to which, under applicable governing laws, retention of title may be imposed unilaterally by the vendor or supplier thereof; provided that Inventory of a European Borrower which may be subject to any rights of retention of title shall not be excluded from Eligible Finished Goods Inventory solely pursuant to this sub-paragraph (s) in the event that (A) the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that the full purchase price of such Inventory (and/or all other Inventory supplied by a common vendor) has, or will have, been paid prior, or upon the delivery of, such Inventory to the relevant European Borrower or (B) a Letter of Credit has been issued under and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for the purchase of such Inventory;
(t) which is Inventory of an Acquired Entity or Business acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment, until the completion of an appraisal satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion with respect to such Inventory; or
(u) which the Administrative Agent otherwise determines is unacceptable in its Permitted Discretion;
provided, further, that in determining the value of the Eligible Finished Goods Inventory, such value shall be reduced by, without duplication, any amounts representing (i) Vendor Rebates; (ii) costs included in Inventory relating to advertising; (iii) to the extent determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion to be appropriate, the shrink reserve; (iv) the unreconciled discrepancy between the general inventory ledger and the perpetual inventory ledger, to the extent the general inventory ledger reflects less Inventory than the perpetual inventory ledger; and (v) a reserve for Inventory which is designated or demanded to be returned to or retained by the applicable vendor or which is recognized as damaged or off quality by the applicable Loan Party.
In the event that a Financial Officer of the Company has actual knowledge that Inventory having a fair market value of $5,000,000 or more which was previously Eligible Finished Goods Inventory ceases to be Eligible Finished Goods Inventory hereunder, such Loan Party or the Borrower Representative shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) notify the Administrative Agent thereof and deliver an updated Borrowing Base Certificate to the Administrative Agent showing the Borrowing Base in effect after giving effect to the removal of any such Inventory from Eligible Finished Goods Inventory; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, upon receipt of such notice as set forth above, adjust the applicable Borrowing Base to reflect such change in Eligible Finished Goods Inventory.
“Eligible Intellectual Property” means, at any time prior to the Collateral Designation Date, as of the date of determination thereof, without duplication, Trademark Assets owned by the U.S. Loan Parties that satisfy all of the following conditions:
(a) such Trademark Assets have been identified on the Perfection Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent on the Effective Date;
(b) such Trademark Assets are subject to a perfected first priority security interest (subject to any Liens specified in clause (c)(ii)(x) of this definition) in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Parties);
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(c) such Trademark Assets are not subject to any Lien other than (i) Liens permitted under Section 6.02(a), (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance (x) for which appropriate Reserves (as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion) have been established or (y) which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Parties) and (iii) junior priority Permitted Liens that are subject to the Applicable Intercreditor Agreement;
(d) such Trademark Assets are validly registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office;
(e) such Trademark Assets are not subject to any claim or assertion (whether in writing, by suit or otherwise) that any U.S. Loan Party’s ownership or any Loan Party’s or any Subsidiary’s use of such Trademark Assets violates the Trademark Assets of any other Person (to the extent of any diminution in value resulting therefrom as determined by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion);
(f) the Administrative Agent shall have received a completed appraisal satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion with respect to such Trademark Assets; and
(g) the Administrative Agent shall not have otherwise determined that such Trademark Assets are unacceptable in its Permitted Discretion.
In the event that a Financial Officer of the Company has actual knowledge that any Trademark Asset that was previously Eligible Intellectual Property ceases to be Eligible Intellectual Property hereunder, the Borrower Representative shall immediately notify the Administrative Agent thereof and deliver an updated Borrowing Base Certificate to the Administrative Agent showing the Borrowing Base in effect after giving effect to the removal of any such Trademark Asset from Eligible Intellectual Property; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, upon receipt of such notice as set forth above, adjust the applicable Borrowing Base to reflect such change in Eligible Intellectual Property. Upon the Collateral Designation Date, all previously Eligible Intellectual Property shall automatically cease to be Eligible Intellectual Property hereunder.
“Environment” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, land surface and subsurface strata and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.
“Environmental Laws” means all applicable federal, state, provincial, territorial, municipal and local laws (including common law), regulations, rules, ordinances, codes, decrees, judgments, directives, orders (including consent orders), orders-in-council, and binding agreements with any Governmental Authority in each case, relating to pollution or protection of the Environment, human health and safety (to the extent related to exposure to Hazardous Materials), or the presence, Release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials, or the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport, recycling or handling of, or the arrangement for such activities with respect to, Hazardous Materials.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, claim, action, suit, agreement, judgment or order arising under or relating to any Environmental Law for any damages, injunctive relief, losses, fines, penalties, fees, expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and consultants) or costs, whether contingent or otherwise, including those arising from or relating to: (a) compliance or non-compliance with any Environmental Law or permit, license or approval issued thereunder, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threat of Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest (other than, immediately after such conversion or exchange, any Indebtedness or other debt securities that are convertible or exchangeable into any such Equity Interests).
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“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with any Loan Party, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code or Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived), (b) any failure by any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standard (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan, in each case whether or not waived or a failure by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate to make a required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan, (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA, of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, (d) a determination that any Plan is in “at-risk” status (as defined in Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4) of the Code), (e) the incurrence by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA), (f) the receipt by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA, (g) an event or condition which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (h) the incurrence by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan (including any liability under Section 4062(e) of ERISA) or Multiemployer Plan, (i) the receipt by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA, or in “endangered” or “critical” status, within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA or Section 432 of the Code, (j) a failure by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate to pay when due (after expiration of any applicable grace period) any installment payment with respect to Withdrawal Liability, or (k) the occurrence of a non-exempt “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) with respect to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate is a “disqualified person” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) or a “party in interest” (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA) or could otherwise reasonably be expected to be liable.
“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.
“European Availability Period” means, (i) with respect to German Revolving Loans, the period from and including the date that a Successful Exchange Transaction is consummated to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the aggregate Commitments and (ii) with respect to Swiss Revolving Loans, the period from and including the date the Administrative Agent receives the Swiss Tax Ruling to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the aggregate Commitments.
“European Borrowers” means the Swiss Borrowers and the German Borrowers.
“European Borrowing Base” means, at any time of calculation, an amount equal to the sum of each German Borrowing Base and each Swiss Borrowing Base.
“European Collateral” means the Swiss Collateral, the Dutch Collateral, the German Collateral and the UK Collateral.
“European Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) such Lender’s German Credit Exposure plus (b) such Lender’s Swiss Credit Exposure.
“European Line Cap” means, as of any date of determination thereof by the Administrative Agent, an amount equal to the least of (i) the total Commitments then in effect, (ii) $40,000,000 and (iii) the European Borrowing Base.
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“European Loan Parties” means the Swiss Loan Parties, the German Loan Parties, the Dutch Loan Parties and the UK Loan Parties.
“European Loans” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the European Revolving Loans, the European Protective Advances and the European Overadvances.
“European Overadvance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(c).
“European Overadvance Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding European Overadvances at such time. The European Overadvance Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total European Overadvance Exposure at such time.
“European Protective Advance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“European Protective Advance Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding European Protective Advances at such time. The European Protective Advance Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total European Protective Advance Exposure at such time.
“European Revolving Exposure” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, the outstanding principal amount of European Revolving Loans of such Revolving Lender at such time.
“European Revolving Loan” means the German Revolving Loans and Swiss Revolving Loans.
“European Security Agreements” means, collectively, the Dutch Security Agreements, the German Security Agreements and the Swiss Security Agreements and the UK Security Agreements.
“European Union” means the region comprised of member states of the European Union pursuant to the Treaty on the European Union.
“Events of Default” or “Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Article VII.
“Exchange” means either (a) the acquisition by Consenting Noteholders (as defined in the Exchange TSA) of the 2029 1L Notes and/or 2029 2L Notes in exchange for the 2026 Notes held by such Consenting Noteholders pursuant to the Exchange Transactions (as defined in the Exchange TSA) or (b) the exchange of the 2026 Notes for 2029 1L Notes and/or 2029 2L Notes as set forth in the Exchange TSA.
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Exchange Effective Date” shall mean the date the Exchange Transactions are effective.
“Exchange Documents” each of the definitive documents and agreements related to or otherwise utilized to implement, effectuate, or govern the Exchange Transactions. Exchange Documents not executed or in a form attached to the Exchange TSA as of the Effective Date (a) shall be consistent in all material respects with the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange TSA, and (b) shall otherwise be in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (including any amendment, modification, supplement, or waiver of any terms thereof).
“Exchange Milestones” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.31.
“Exchange Term Sheet” means the Restructuring Term Sheet as defined in (and attached as Exhibit A to) the Exchange TSA.
“Exchange Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the entry into the Exchange TSA and each of the other Exchange Documents, (b) the consummation of the Restructuring Transactions (as defined in the Exchange TSA), including the Exchange in accordance with terms and conditions of the Exchange TSA which shall result in the issuance of the 2029 1L Notes and the 2029 2L Notes, including not less than $32,500,000 in new money 2029 1L Notes, (c) the repayment of the Loans by the Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of the 2029 IL Notes, (d) the entry into the Intercreditor Agreement and (e) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.
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“Exchange Transaction Termination Event” means any of the following events: (a) the Loan Parties fail to consummate an Exchange Transaction (constituting a Successful Exchange Transaction) on or prior to the applicable Outside Date (as defined in, and determined in accordance with, the Exchange TSA), (b) the Exchange TSA is terminated for any reason whatsoever (other than upon consummation of a Successful Exchange Transaction), (c) the Loan Parties cease to pursue the Exchange Transaction in good faith or (d) Consenting Noteholders (as defined in the Exchange TSA) fail to hold at any time at least 58% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2026 Notes.
“Exchange TSA” means, collectively, that certain Transaction Support Agreement dated as of August 13, 2025, by and among the Company, certain of its affiliates, and certain holders or beneficial holders of the 2026 Notes (including, without limitation, all exhibits or schedules thereto and the Exchange Term Sheet), as in effect on the date hereof and without giving effect to any amendment, modification or waiver of any of the terms, conditions or covenants thereof that are not consented to by the Administrative Agent.
“Excluded Account” means all means all (i) Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts, Futures Accounts and Commodity Accounts (a) maintained solely as payroll or other employee wage and benefit accounts (including withholding tax payments related thereto), (b) maintained solely as sales tax accounts, (c) maintained (A) solely as escrow accounts or fiduciary or trust accounts, in each case, for the benefit of third parties, other than the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates and accounts otherwise held exclusively for the benefit of third parties, other than the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates or (B) solely to hold restricted cash as supporting obligations for guarantees permitted pursuant to Section 6.01, (d) that contain solely deposits permitted by clauses (c) and (d) of the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances”, if the documents governing such deposits prohibit the granting of a lien on such deposits, (e) that are maintained solely as store accounts maintained for local deposits; provided that the entire balance (other than a nominal amount to cover fees and charges) of all such accounts is swept on the Friday of each week (or if Friday is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) (other than during a Dominion Period, in which case the entire balance of all such accounts shall be swept on each Business Day) into one or more Deposit Accounts that are not Excluded Accounts and that are subject to a Control Agreement (it being understood that no Concentration Account or Collection Account will be an Excluded Account as a result of this clause (e)) and (f) the entire balance of which is swept on each Business Day into one or more Deposit Accounts that are not Excluded Accounts and that are subject to a Control Agreement (it being understood that no Concentration Account or Collection Account will be an Excluded Account as a result of this clause (f)), and (ii) other Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts, Futures Accounts or Commodities Accounts, with an aggregate closing daily balance not in excess of $4,000,000 in the aggregate for all such Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts, Futures Accounts or Commodities Accounts excluded pursuant to this clause (ii); provided that no Concentration Account, Collection Account, Deposit Account included in the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program nor the Borrowers’ Funding Account (regardless of the amount on deposit at any time in such account) shall be an Excluded Account.
“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company on the Effective Date or on the date such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary, in each case for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-wholly owned Subsidiary, (b) any Foreign Subsidiary of the Company (subject to the immediately following sentence), (c) [reserved], (d) any CFC Holdco, (e) any Subsidiary that is prohibited or restricted by applicable law from providing a Loan Guarantee of the applicable Guaranteed Obligations or if such Loan Guarantee would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization, unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (f) any Subsidiary that is a not-for-profit organization, (g) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (h) any Subsidiary that is an Immaterial Subsidiary (unless, solely in the case of a Subsidiary organized in the same jurisdiction as an existing Loan Party, the Company otherwise elects), and (i) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent (confirmed in writing by notice to the Company), the cost or other consequences of becoming a Guarantor shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, all Excluded Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date are listed on Schedule 1.01. Notwithstanding the foregoing (x) no Canadian Loan Party or Canadian Subsidiary, German Loan Party or German Subsidiary, Swiss Loan Party or Swiss Subsidiary, Dutch Loan Party or UK Loan Party or UK Subsidiary shall be excluded from being required to comply with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement pursuant to clauses (b), (c) or (d) above, (y) no Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that Guarantees the 2026 Notes Obligations or the 2029 Notes Secured Obligations or any Material Indebtedness of any Loan Party shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary and (z) no Subsidiary of the Company that owns or licenses (other than non-exclusive licenses from the Company or another Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business) any Material Intellectual Property shall be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary.
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“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Loan Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Loan 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 Loan Party’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 Loan Guarantee of such Loan Party 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 Loan Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by such Recipient’s net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, branch profits Taxes and Canadian capital Taxes, in each case, imposed by a jurisdiction 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, such jurisdiction or as a result of any other present or former connection, or permanent establishment in respect of amounts received or receivable that are effectively attributable to such permanent establishment, between such Recipient and such jurisdiction (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document and/or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan Document), (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the applicable Commitment (or, to the extent a Lender acquires an interest in a Loan not funded pursuant to a prior Commitment, acquires such interest in such Loan) (in each case, other than pursuant to an assignment request under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case under clause (i) or (ii) to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in such Loan or Commitment, as applicable, or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) any Taxes attributable to a Lender’s failure to comply with Sections 2.17(e), 9.04(b)(iii), 9.04(c) or resulting from an incorrect Lender status confirmation under Section 2.17(i) or having lost the status as Swiss Qualifying Bank or not being a Swiss Qualifying Bank on the Effective Date and (d) solely with respect to any withholding or deduction required in respect of a Loan or Commitment, any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, (e) any Canadian withholding tax imposed under Part XIII of the ITA by reason of (i) a Recipient not dealing at arm’s length (for the purposes of the ITA) with a Canadian Loan Party, (ii) a Recipient being a “specified non-resident shareholder” (as defined in subsection 18(5) of the ITA) of a Canadian Loan Party or not dealing at arm’s length (for the purposes of the ITA) with a “specified shareholder” (as defined in subsection 18(5) of the ITA) of a Canadian Loan Party, as applicable, or (iii) a Recipient being an entity in respect of which a Canadian Loan Party is a “specified entity” (as defined in subsection 18.4(1) of the ITA), except, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii), as applicable, where the non-arm’s length relationship arises, where the Recipient is a specified non-resident shareholder of a Canadian Loan Party or does not deal at arm’s length with a specified shareholder of a Canadian Loan Party, or the Recipient is an entity in respect of which a Canadian Loan Party is a specified entity, on account of the Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document and/or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan Document and (f) in the case of a Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by Borrower Representative under Section 2.19), any United Kingdom withholding tax other than (x) the portion of United Kingdom withholding tax with respect to which the applicable Lender is entitled to claim a reduction under an income tax treaty and (y) United Kingdom withholding taxes on payments made by any Guarantor under any guarantee of the Obligations imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the applicable Commitment (or, to the extent a Lender acquires an interest in a Loan not funded pursuant to a prior Commitment, acquires such interest in such Loan) (in each case, other than pursuant to an assignment request under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender
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changes its lending office, except in each case under clause (i) or (ii) to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in such Loan or Commitment, as applicable, or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office and (g) any Swiss Withholding Tax which arises as a result of revocation of the Swiss Tax Ruling by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration and (h) any German Tax which arises solely because the payment is made to a Recipient incorporated, having its place of effective management, or acting through a permanent establishment, as the case may be, located in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction. “Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction” means a “non-cooperative tax jurisdiction” (nicht kooperativesSteuerhoheitsgebiet) as set out in the German Act to prevent Tax Avoidance and Unfair Tax Competition (Gesetz zur Abwehr von Steuervermeidung und unfairem Steuerwettbewerb (Steueroasen-Abwehrgesetz)) and the respective legislative decree (Rechtsverordnung), referred to in section 3, paragraph 1 of that German Act, as amended from time to time.
“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2019, by and among the Company, as the Borrower Representative, Fossil Partners, as a Borrower, the other Loan Parties (as defined therein) party thereto, the Lenders (as defined therein) party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, as amended, restated supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the Effective Date.
“Extenuating Circumstance” means any period during which the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (i) that due to unforeseen and/or nonrecurring circumstances, it is impractical and/or not feasible to submit or receive a Borrowing Request by email or fax or through Electronic System, and (ii) to accept a Borrowing Request telephonically.
“Extraordinary Receipts” means (i) tax refunds, other than tax refunds with respect to overpayments of estimated taxes, and (ii) proceeds of judgments, proceeds of settlements, or other consideration of any kind received in connection with any cause of action or claim.
“FAS 842” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.06(b).
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the Effective Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future Treasury regulations or other official administrative interpretations thereof, and any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above) and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.
“FATCA Deduction” means a deduction or withholding from a payment made under a Loan Document, as required by FATCA.
“FATCA Exempt Party” means a party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction.
“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 shall be set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Federal Reserve Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“Fee Letter” means the Fee Letter dated as of the Effective Date, by and between the Company and the Administrative Agent.
“Financial Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of such Person and, in the case of a Foreign Loan Party also means each person performing similar duties as the foregoing Persons (including any director of such Loan Party acting in such capacity).
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“Fiscal Month” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the approximately one-month period ending around the end of each month or such other applicable period, as determined from time to time by the Company in the ordinary course of its business, as the context may require, or, if any such Subsidiary was not in existence on the first day of any such period, the period commencing on the date on which such Subsidiary is incorporated, organized, formed or otherwise created and ending on the last day of such period.
“Fiscal Quarter” means one of the four (4) periods falling in each Fiscal Year, each such period being thirteen (13) weeks in duration, with the first such period in any Fiscal Year beginning on the first day of such Fiscal Year and the last such period in any Fiscal Year ending on the last Saturday closest to December 31.
“Fiscal Year” means the fifty–two (52) or fifty-three (53) week period beginning on the date which is one day after the end of the similar preceding period and ending on the Saturday closest to December 31st.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such period minus (ii) Unfinanced Capital Expenditures for such period minus (iii) such portion of principal payments on Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations made by the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries during such period as is attributable to additions to property, plant and equipment that have not otherwise been reflected on the consolidated statement of cash flows as additions to property, plant and equipment for such period to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.
“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor 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 Adjusted Term SOFR Rate. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial Floor for the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be 2.00%.
“Foreign Borrowers” means the Borrowers other than the U.S. Borrowers.
“Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.
“Foreign Loan Parties” means the Loan Parties other than the U.S. Loan Parties.
“Foreign Pension Plan” means any pension plan, pension undertaking, supplemental pension, retirement savings or other retirement income plan, obligation or arrangement of any kind (other than any state social security arrangement that is not subject to US law or any Canadian Pension Plan) and that is established, maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its Affiliates or in respect of which the Company or any of its Affiliates has any liability, obligation or contingent liability.
“Foreign Pension Plan Event” means, with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan or any Canadian Pension Plan, (a) (i) except in respect of Canadian Defined Benefit Plan, the existence of unfunded liabilities in excess of the amount permitted under any applicable law, or in excess of the amount that would be permitted absent a waiver from a Governmental Authority, or (ii) in respect of a Canadian Defined Benefit Plan, the existence of any unfunded liability or any solvency deficiency, (b) the failure to make the required contributions or payments, under any applicable law, on or before the due date for such contributions or payments, (c) the receipt of a notice from a Governmental Authority relating to the intention to terminate any such Foreign Pension Plan or Canadian Pension Plan or to appoint a trustee or similar official to administer any such Foreign Pension Plan or any Canadian Pension Plan, or alleging the insolvency of any such Foreign Pension Plan or Canadian Pension Plan, (d) the incurrence of any liability by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary under applicable law on account of the complete or partial termination of such Foreign Pension Plan or Canadian Pension Plan or the complete or partial withdrawal of any participating employer therein or (e) the occurrence of any transaction that is prohibited under any applicable law and that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any liability by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or the imposition on any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, of any fine, excise tax or penalty resulting from any noncompliance with any applicable law.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company, other than a Domestic Subsidiary.
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“Fossil Canada” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Fossil East” means Fossil (East) Limited, a Hong Kong corporation.
“Fossil Germany” means Fossil (Europe) GmbH, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Germany.
“Fossil Partners” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Fossil Switzerland” means Fossil Group Europe GmbH, a limited liability company organized under the law of Switzerland.
“Funding Account(s)” means the deposit account(s) of the Borrowers to which the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrowers (or by the Borrower Representative on their behalf) to transfer the proceeds of any Borrowings requested or authorized pursuant to this Agreement.
“Futures Account(s)” means all “futures accounts” as such term is defined in the PPSA.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, applied in accordance with the consistency requirements thereof.
“German Borrowers” means each German Subsidiary that becomes party to this Agreement as a German Borrower after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.03(b) or Section 5.25.
“German Borrowing Base” means, in relation to a German Borrower, at any time (without duplication), the Dollar Equivalent amount of the sum of:
(a) the lesser of (x) the product of (i) the Applicable Foreign Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory of that German Borrower at such time and (y) the product of (i) the Applicable Foreign Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Cost of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory of that German Borrower; provided that In-Transit Inventory shall not comprise more than 20% of the total amount of this clause (a), plus
(b) the product of (i) the Applicable Foreign Accounts Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Eligible Accounts of that German Borrower at such time, minus
(c) without duplication, Reserves established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.
The Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion and with no less than two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower Representative (other than during a Dominion Period, in which case notice shall not be required), establish or adjust Reserves used in computing a German Borrowing Base; provided, that (i) no such notice shall be required to reduce any Reserve or to increase any Reserve resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of the amount thereof in accordance with methodology previously established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and (ii) regardless of whether such notice is required, such new or increased Reserve shall be deemed to be in effect immediately for purposes of determining the Revolving Exposure Limitations with respect to any requested Borrowing or other credit extension. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence and the other provisions hereof expressly permitting the Administrative Agent to adjust any German Borrowing Base, a German Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
Any changes after the Effective Date in how the applicable Loan Parties value their Inventory in accordance with their historical practices prior to the Effective Date shall be subject to the reasonable approval of the Administrative Agent.
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“German Collateral” means any and all property of any German Loan Party covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any German Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become, or is intended to be or become, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations.
“German Credit Exposure” means, as to any Revolving Lender at any time, the Dollar Equivalent of the sum of (a) such Revolving Lender’s German Revolving Exposure plus (b) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount of German Overadvances and German Protective Advances outstanding.
“German Guarantee” means Article XIII of this Agreement.
“German Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.01.
“German Guarantor” means each German Borrower (solely with respect to its Obligations arising pursuant to Section 13.01 hereof) and each German Subsidiary that becomes a party hereto as a German Guarantor pursuant to Section 5.03 or Section 5.25, in each case, until such Subsidiary’s German Guarantee is released in accordance herewith.
“German Insolvency Event” means: (a) a German Relevant Entity is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due or is deemed to or declared to be unable to pay its debts under applicable law, suspends or threatens to suspend making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness, including a stoppage of payment situation (Zahlungsunfähigkeit), a status of over-indebtedness (Überschuldung) in the meaning of Section 19 of the German Insolvency Code or actual insolvency proceedings; (b) a moratorium is declared in respect of any Indebtedness of a German Relevant Entity, or (c) (i) such German Relevant Entity is otherwise in a situation to file for insolvency because of any of the reasons set out in Sections 17 to 19 of the German Insolvency Code and (ii) a petition for insolvency proceedings in respect of its assets (Antrag auf Eröffnung einesInsolvenzverfahrens) has been filed based on section 17 to section 19 of the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung), or actions are taken pursuant to section 21 German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung) by a competent court.
“German Loan Parties” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the German Borrowers and each German Guarantor.
“German Obligated Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.02.
“German Overadvance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(c).
“German Protective Advance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“German Relevant Entity” means any German Loan Party or any Loan Party capable of becoming subject of insolvency proceedings under the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung).
“German Revolving Exposure” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, the outstanding principal amount of German Revolving Loans of such Revolving Lender at such time.
“German Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Loan made by the Revolving Lenders to the German Borrowers.
“German Security Agreements” means, collectively, any German law pledge or security agreement entered into after the Effective Date by any Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“German Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company that has been formed or is organized under the laws of Germany.
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“Germany” means the Federal Republic of Germany.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether provincial, territorial, state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national body exercising such powers or functions, such as the European Union, the Council of Ministers of the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or other obligation; provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount, as of any date of determination, of any Guarantee shall be the principal amount outstanding on such date of Indebtedness or other obligation guaranteed thereby (or, in the case of (i) any Guarantee the terms of which limit the monetary exposure of the guarantor or (ii) any Guarantee of an obligation that does not have a principal amount, the maximum monetary exposure as of such date of the guarantor under such Guarantee (as determined, in the case of clause (i), pursuant to such terms or, in the case of clause (ii), reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company)).
“Guaranteed Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.09(a).
“Guaranteed Obligations” means, collectively, the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations, the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations, the German Guaranteed Obligations, the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations and the UK Guaranteed Obligations.
“Guarantors” means the U.S. Guarantors, the Canadian Guarantors, the Dutch Guarantor, the German Guarantors, the Swiss Guarantors and the UK Guarantors.
“Hazardous Materials” means any chemical, material, substance or waste that is prohibited, limited or regulated by or pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, including, without limitation, any petroleum products or byproducts and all other hydrocarbons, coal ash, radon gas, asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances or toxic mold.
“Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Economic Region of the People’s Republic of China.
“Hong Kong Dollars” or “HK$” means the lawful currency of Hong Kong.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Loan Party) that, at the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Month of the Company for which financial statements have theretofore been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(b)(ii), either individually or together with its Subsidiaries, accounted for less than (x) 5.0% of Total Assets at such date and (y) less than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recent twelve Fiscal Month period ending on or prior to such date; provided that, notwithstanding the above, “Immaterial Subsidiary” shall exclude any of the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries designated in writing to the Administrative Agent, by a responsible officer of the Company (which the Company shall be required to designate (and hereby undertakes to designate) to the extent necessary to ensure that Immaterial Subsidiaries and their respective Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, accounted for, at the last day of any Fiscal Month of the Company for which financial statements have theretofore been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(b)(ii), less than 5.0% of Total Assets at such date and less than 5.0% of consolidated revenues of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the twelve Fiscal Month period ending on such date.
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“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person (excluding trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding (i) current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) deferred compensation payable to directors, officers or employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) any purchase price adjustment or earnout incurred in connection with an acquisition), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (g) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (h) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed by such Person (but only to the extent of the lesser of (x) the amount of such Indebtedness and (y) the fair market value of such property, if such Indebtedness has not been assumed by such Person), and (i) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall not include trade payables (including any obligation owed by a Person arising out of arrangements whereby a third party makes payments for the account of such Person directly or indirectly to a trade creditor of such Person in respect of trade payables of such Person) and related accrued expenses, and related obligations owed to such third party purchaser, incurred by any Person in accordance with customary practices and in the ordinary course of business of such Person. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other Person (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor by contract, as a matter of law or otherwise as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such other Person, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), all Other Taxes.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(b).
“Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.12.
“Information Materials” means all written materials relating to the Loan Parties and the Transactions provided to the Lenders in connection with the syndication of the Commitments.
“Insolvency Laws” means each of the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the Winding-Up and Restructuring Act (Canada), the United Kingdom’s Insolvency Act 1986, the EU Regulation 2015/848 on insolvency proceedings (recast), the United Kingdom’s Companies Act 2006, the German Insolvency Code, the Swiss Federal Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Act (Bundesgesetz über Schuldbetreibung und Konkurs (SchKG)) and the Dutch Bankruptcy Act (Faillissementswet), in each case as amended, and any other applicable state, provincial, territorial, foreign or federal bankruptcy laws, each as now and hereafter in effect, any successors to such statutes and any other applicable insolvency or other similar law of any jurisdiction, including any corporate law of any jurisdiction permitting a debtor to obtain a stay or a compromise of the claims of its creditors against it and including any rules and regulations pursuant thereto.
“Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in the U.S. Security Agreement.
“Intercompany Cash Pooling Program” means the physical cash pooling in-house banking program described to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date, pursuant to which Fossil Europe BV serves as the cash pool master (or in-house bank) for the Company and its applicable Subsidiaries.
“Intercompany Sourcing Arrangements” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.33.
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“Intercompany Subordination Agreement” means the Intercompany Subordination Agreement dated as of the Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers and the other Restricted Subsidiaries party thereto, in the form attached as Exhibit M, as the same may be amended in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
“Intercreditor Agreement” means any intercreditor agreement by and among the Administrative Agent and each Applicable Senior Notes Trustee, and acknowledged by the Loan Parties, substantially the form of Exhibit E (with (A) any immaterial changes (as determined in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion) thereto as the Company and the Administrative Agent may agree in their respective reasonable discretion and/or (B) any material changes thereto as the Company and the Administrative Agent may agree in their respective reasonable discretion, which material changes are provided for review by the Lenders and shall be deemed acceptable if the Required Lenders have not objected in writing thereto within three (3) Business Days following the date on which such changes are provided for review), as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance therewith and this Agreement.
“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan (other than a Protective Advance or an Overadvance), the first day of each calendar month and the Maturity Date, and (b) with respect to any Protective Advance or Overadvance, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Maturity Date.
“In-Transit Inventory” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Eligible Finished Goods Inventory”.
“Inventory” has the meaning set forth in each Security Agreement.
“Investment” means, with respect to a specified Person, any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, or any capital contribution or loans or advances (other than advances made in the ordinary course of business that would be recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP) to, Guarantees of any Indebtedness or other obligations of, or any other investment (including any investment in the form of transfer of property for consideration that is less than the fair value thereof (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company)) in, any other Person that are held or made by the specified Person. The amount, as of any date of determination, of (a) any Investment in the form of a loan or an advance shall be the principal amount thereof outstanding on such date, without any adjustment for write-downs or write-offs (including as a result of forgiveness of any portion thereof) with respect to such loan or advance after the date thereof, (b) any Investment in the form of a Guarantee shall be determined in accordance with the definition of the term “Guarantee”, (c) any Investment in the form of a purchase or other acquisition for value of any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of any Person shall be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company) of the consideration therefor (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith), plus the fair value (as so determined) of all additions, as of such date of determination, thereto, and minus the amount, as of such date of determination, of any portion of such Investment repaid to the investor in cash as a repayment of principal or a return of capital, as the case may be, but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the time of such Investment, (d) any Investment (other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) above) in the form of a transfer of Equity Interests or other property by the investor to the investee, including any such transfer in the form of a capital contribution, shall be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company) of such Equity Interests or other property as of the time of such transfer (less, in the case of any investment in the form of transfer of property for consideration that is less than the fair value thereof, the fair value (as so determined) of such consideration as of the time of the transfer), minus the amount, as of such date of determination, of any portion of such Investment repaid to the investor in cash as a return of capital, but without any other adjustment for increases or decreases in value of, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to, such Investment after the time of such transfer, and (e) any Investment (other than any Investment referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above) in any Person resulting from the issuance by such Person of its Equity Interests to the investor shall be the fair value (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the Company) of such Equity Interests at the time of the issuance thereof.
“IP Advance” means, at any time of determination, the lesser of (a) the aggregate principal amount of U.S. Revolving Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the amount of clause (d) of the U.S. Borrowing Base at such time.
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“IP Advance Rate” means, initially, 70%; provided that, on the first calendar day of each month (commencing on December 1, 2025), the IP Advance Rate then in effect shall be permanently reduced by 117 basis points (e.g., from 70.00% to 68.83% on December 1, 2025, from 68.83% to 67.66% on January 1, 2026, and so forth).
“IP Cap” means, initially, $30,000,000; provided that, on the first calendar day of each month (commencing on December 1, 2025), the IP Cap then in effect shall be permanently reduced by $500,000 (e.g., from $30,000,000 to $29,500,000 on December 1, 2025, from $29,500,000 to $29,000,000 on January 1, 2026, and so forth); provided further that, with respect to (a) any Disposition of Intellectual Property (other than the Disposition of the Intellectual Property related to the Michele brand), the IP Cap then in effect shall be further permanently reduced by an amount equal to the greater of (x) the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of such Intellectual Property and (y) 50% of the amount of Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition, and (b) the Disposition of the Intellectual Property related to the Michele brand, the IP Cap then in effect shall be further permanently reduced by an amount equal to (i) if such Disposition occurs within six (6) months after the Effective Date, the greater of (x) the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of such Intellectual Property and (y) 35% of the amount of Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition, or (ii) if such Disposition occurs after the date that is six (6) months after the Effective Date, the greater of (x) the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of such Intellectual Property and (y) 50% of the amount of Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition.
“IP Security Agreements” has the meaning set forth in each of the U.S. Security Agreement and the Canadian Security Agreement.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Issuing Banks” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, any bank or financial institution selected by the Administrative Agent in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors and assigns in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). Each Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.
“ITA” means the Income Tax Act (Canada), as amended.
“ITA (UK)” means the Income Tax Act 2007, as amended.
“Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H.
“LC Collateral Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(j).
“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit. The date of an LC Disbursement shall be the date of payment by the applicable Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit or a time draft presented thereunder, as the case may be.
“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements relating to Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.
“Lender Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.
“Lender Parties” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) the Lenders, (c) the Issuing Banks, (d) Qualified Counterparties to whom any Banking Services Obligations constituting Secured Obligations hereunder are owing, (e) [reserved], (f) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (g) the permitted successors and assigns of the foregoing.
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“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption (or an Affiliate or branch of any such Person that is acting on behalf of such Person, in which case the term “Lenders” shall include any such Affiliate or branch with respect to the Loans made by such Affiliate or branch), other than any such Person that shall have ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.
“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit or similar instrument (including a bank guarantee) acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank issued pursuant to this Agreement for the account of a U.S. Borrower or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that no Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be a Commercial Letter of Credit.
“Letter of Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.06(b).
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, assignment by way of security, security interest or other encumbrance in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
“Line Cap” means, as of any date of determination thereof by the Administrative Agent, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the total Commitments then in effect and (ii) the Aggregate Borrowing Base.
“LLC” means any Person that is a limited liability company under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Collateral Documents, the Agent Fee Letter, the Fee Letter, each Compliance Certificate, the Intercreditor Agreement, any other Applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, the Sourcing Rights Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit Agreement and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lender and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices, letter of credit agreements, letter of credit applications and any agreements between the Borrower Representative and the Issuing Bank regarding the respective rights and obligations between a Borrower and the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance by the Issuing Bank of Letters of Credit. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.
“Loan Guarantee” means the U.S. Guarantee, the Canadian Guarantee, the German Guarantee, the Swiss Guarantee, the Dutch Guarantee and the UK Guarantee.
“Loan Parties” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the U.S. Loan Parties, the Canadian Loan Parties, the Dutch Loan Parties, the German Loan Parties, the Swiss Loan Parties and the UK Loan Parties.
“Loans” means the loans and advances made by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement, including Overadvances and Protective Advances.
“Management Notification” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.24(c).
“Margin Stock” means margin stock within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X, as applicable.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the results of operations, assets, business or financial condition of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties to perform any of their monetary obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders under the Loan Documents.
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“Material Contract” means (a) any agreement to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is a party that is of the type referred to as a “material definitive agreement” in Form 8-K or required to be attached as an exhibit to a filing in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K as promulgated by the SEC and (b) any cash pooling agreements to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is a party or by which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is bound.
“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans, Letters of Credit and the Loan Guarantee), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $15,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.
“Material Intellectual Property” means Intellectual Property that is (i) material to the conduct of business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) necessary or material to permit the Administrative Agent to enforce its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents with respect to the Collateral, or the disposition of which would otherwise adversely affect the Net Orderly Liquidation Value Percentage of any Collateral.
“Material Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee by any Loan Party having a fair market value at the time in excess of $2,500,000.
“Material Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary.
“Maturity Date” means August 13, 2030 (the “Scheduled Maturity Date”); provided that, if on the date that is the 91st day prior to the scheduled maturity date of (i) any Material Indebtedness, any such Material Indebtedness is outstanding on such date, then the Maturity Date shall be such date, or (ii) any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than the Loans, Letters of Credit and the Loan Guarantee) of any one or more of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $5,000,000, any such Indebtedness is outstanding on such date, then the Administrative Agent may establish a Debt Maturity Reserve with respect to such Indebtedness.
“Maximum Canadian Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.08.
“Maximum German Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.08.
“Maximum Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.16.
“Maximum Swiss Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.08.
“Maximum UK Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.08.
“Maximum U.S. Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
“Mortgages” means the mortgages, land charges, debentures, deeds of hypothecs, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents in legally sufficient form to secure Liens on the Premises, as well as the other Collateral secured by and described in the mortgages, land charges, debentures, deeds of hypothecs, deeds of trust, deeds to secure Indebtedness or other similar documents.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions or has any ongoing obligation with respect to withdrawal liability (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA).
“Net Cash Pooling Investment” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(r).
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“Net Cash Proceeds” means (a) with respect to any Disposition by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of assets, the amount of cash proceeds received (directly or indirectly) from time to time (whether as initial consideration or through the payment of deferred consideration) by or on behalf of such Loan Party or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith after deducting therefrom only (i) reasonable fees, commissions, and expenses related thereto and required to be paid by such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary to any unaffiliated third party in connection with such Disposition, (ii) Taxes paid or payable to any taxing authorities by such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates in connection with such Disposition, and (iii) all amounts that are set aside as a reserve (A) for adjustments in respect of the purchase price of such assets, (B) for any liabilities associated with such sale or casualty, to the extent such reserve is required by GAAP, and (C) for the payment of unassumed liabilities relating to the assets Disposed of at the time of, or within thirty (30) days after, the date of such Disposition, to the extent that in each case the funds described above in this clause (iii) are (x) deposited into escrow with a third party escrow agent or set aside in a separate Deposit Account that is subject to a Control Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent (except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) and (y) paid to the Administrative Agent as a prepayment of the applicable Obligations in accordance with Section 2.11(c) at such time when such amounts are no longer required to be set aside as such a reserve; and (b) with respect to the issuance or incurrence of any Indebtedness by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or the issuance by the Company of any Equity Interests, the aggregate amount of cash received (directly or indirectly) from time to time (whether as initial consideration or through the payment or disposition of deferred consideration) by or on behalf of such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company in connection with such issuance or incurrence, after deducting therefrom only (i) reasonable fees, commissions, and expenses related thereto and required to be paid by such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary or the Company to any unaffiliated third party in connection with such issuance or incurrence and (ii) Taxes paid or payable to any taxing authorities by such Loan Party or such Restricted Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates in connection with such issuance or incurrence.
“Net Orderly Liquidation Value” shall mean, with respect to Inventory or Trademark Assets of any Person, the amount equal to the blended recovery (by category) on the aggregate amount of the Eligible Finished Goods Inventory or Eligible Intellectual Property, as applicable, at such time on a “net orderly liquidation value” basis (as determined in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion by an appraiser reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) as set forth in the most recent Inventory appraisal or Intellectual Property appraisal, as applicable, received by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 5.12, net of operating expenses, liquidation expenses and commissions reasonably anticipated in the disposition of such assets.
“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(e).
“Non-Paying Canadian Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.09.
“Non-Paying German Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.09.
“Non-Paying Swiss Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.09.
“Non-Paying UK Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.09.
“Non-Paying U.S. Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.
“Notes Priority Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, it being agreed that after the Collateral Designation Date, so long as the Notes Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) remain outstanding and the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, the Specified Collateral shall be deemed to constitute Notes Priority Collateral instead of ABL Priority Collateral.
“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.
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“Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans to the Borrowers, all LC Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued for the account of a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements (including pursuant to Section 2.06(e)), indemnities and other obligations of the Loan Parties to the Lenders or to any Lender, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents (including interest, costs, fees, expenses and other amounts accruing during the pendency of any case or proceeding under any Insolvency Laws, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such case or proceeding).
“Original Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.22.
“Original Indebtedness” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Refinancing Indebtedness”.
“Other Secured Debt” means Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien permitted by Section 6.02(i)(i) or Section 6.02(k); provided that such Liens comply with the requirements set forth in the provisos to such Sections.
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, excluding any such Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment by a Lender (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19) if such Tax is imposed as a result of a present or former connection between the assignor or assignee and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such assignor or assignee having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, and/or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan Document).
“Overadvance” means a U.S. Overadvance, a Canadian Overadvance or a European Overadvance.
“Overadvance Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the Canadian Overadvance Exposure, the European Overadvance Exposure and the U.S. Overadvance Exposure.
“Parallel Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.11.
“Parent” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “Subsidiary”.
“Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c)(ii).
“Participants” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c)(i).
“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that has the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.
“Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (Signed into law October 26, 2001)).
“Paying Canadian Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.09.
“Paying German Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.09.
“Paying Swiss Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.09.
“Paying UK Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.09.
“Paying U.S. Loan Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.
“Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(d)(i).
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“Payment Conditions” means, at the time of determination with respect to a specified transaction or payment, that:
(a) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would arise as a result of the entering into of such transaction or the making of such payment;
(b) a Successful Exchange Transaction shall have occurred and, except when determining Payment Conditions with respect to a Collateral Designation, 180 days shall have elapsed since the date of such Successful Exchange Transaction; and
(c) on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such transaction or payment and any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness in connection therewith, (i)(A) when determining Payment Conditions with respect to any payment in respect of the 2026 Notes, Availability on a Pro Forma Basis on such date, on each day during the immediately preceding thirty (30) day period, and as projected by the Borrower Representative in good faith for the subsequent six months is equal to or greater than the greater of (x) $25,000,000 and (y) 25% of the Line Cap, or (B) when determining Payment Conditions with respect to any other transaction or payment, Availability on a Pro Forma Basis on such date, on each day during the immediately preceding thirty (30) day period, and as projected by the Borrower Representative in good faith for the subsequent twelve months is equal to or greater than the greater of (x) $37,500,000 and (y) 35% of the Line Cap, (ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the most recently ended twelve Fiscal Month period for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(b)(ii) is at least (A) when determining Payment Conditions with respect to any payment in respect of the 2026 Notes, 0.95 to 1.00, or (B) when determining Payment Conditions with respect to any other transaction or payment, 1.50 to 1.00, and (iii) the sum of (A) all Permitted Acquisitions made under Section 6.04(h), (B) the outstanding amount of all Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 5.17, (C) the outstanding amount of all Investments made under Section 6.04(f), (D) the amount of all Restricted Payments made under Section 6.08(a)(vii), and (E) the amount of all payments of or in respect of Indebtedness under Section 6.08(b)(vii), shall not exceed $30,000,000;
provided that, in each case, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer certifying the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions and setting forth a reasonably detailed calculation of such Availability and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
“Payment Intangibles” has the meaning set forth in the U.S. Security Agreement.
“Payment Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(d)(ii).
“Payment Recipient” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(d)(i).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA.
“Perfection Certificate” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit K or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Permitted Acquisition” means the purchase or other acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Equity Interests in, or all or substantially all the assets of (or all or substantially all the assets constituting a business unit, division, product line or line of business of), any Person if (a) in the case of any purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests in a Person, such Person will be, upon the consummation of such acquisition, a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case including as a result of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation between any Subsidiary and such Person, or (b) in the case of any purchase or other acquisition of other assets, such assets will be owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) no Event of Default exists at the date ~~the agreement relating to such Permitted Acquisition is enteredinto~~such transaction is consummated, (ii) the Payment Conditions are satisfied~~and~~, (iii) the Company shall promptly deliver information relating to such Permitted Acquisition as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (iv) any such acquisition or Investment shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap.
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“Permitted Debt” means Indebtedness of the U.S. Loan Parties (including any Guarantee thereof by a U.S. Loan Party) so long as (i) no portion of the principal of such Indebtedness has a scheduled maturity prior to the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date at the time of issuance (determined as of the date of incurrence thereof or, in the case of any such Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date, the Effective Date), (ii) no Subsidiary of the Company that is not a U.S. Loan Party is an obligor in respect of such Indebtedness, ~~and~~ (iii) that to the extent secured, the Liens securing such Indebtedness must be secured on U.S. Collateral only and shall rank junior to the Liens securing the Secured Obligations in accordance with (and such Liens shall be subject to) an intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iv) such Indebtedness is issued for cash and (v) such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations.
“Permitted Discretion” means a determination made in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable (from the perspective of a secured asset-based lender) business judgment.
“Permitted Encumbrances” means:
(a) Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet delinquent or (i) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP and (iii) such contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation;
(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law (other than any Lien imposed pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the Code), arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.06;
(c) pledges and deposits made (i) in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (i) above;
(d) pledges and deposits made to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (l) of Article VII;
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, site plan agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, cross-easement agreements, reciprocal easement agreements and similar encumbrances and exceptions to title on real property that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any Subsidiary or the ordinary operation of such real property;
(g) customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks and other depository institutions and Liens of a collecting bank arising under the UCC or PPSA in respect of payment items in the course of collection;
(h) Liens arising from precautionary UCC or PPSA financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases or consignments;
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(i) Liens representing any interest or title of a licensor, lessor or sublicensor or sublessor, or a licensee, lessee or sublicensee or sublessee, in the property subject to any lease (other than Capital Lease Obligations), license or sublicense or concession agreement permitted by this Agreement;
(j) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in favor of custom and forwarding agents and similar Persons in respect of imported goods and merchandise in the custody of such Persons;
(k) 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;
(l) the reservations, limitations, provisos and conditions, if any, expressed in any original grant from the Crown in right of Canada or any province thereof of any real property or any interest therein or in any comparable grant in jurisdictions other than Canada, provided they do not materially detract from the value of such property or impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of business;
(m) Liens or rights of setoff against credit balances of the Company or any Subsidiary with credit card issuers, credit card processors or merchant service providers for mobile or digitized payment methods to secure obligations of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, to any such credit card issuer, credit card processor, or merchant service provider incurred in the ordinary course of business as a result of fees, charges, expenses and chargebacks;
(n) (i) contractual or statutory Liens of landlords to the extent relating to the property and assets relating to any lease agreements with such landlord, and (ii) contractual Liens of suppliers (including sellers of goods) or customers granted in the ordinary course of business to the extent limited to the property or assets relating to such contract;
(o) any interest or title of an owner of equipment or inventory on loan or consignment, or in connection with any conditional sale, title retention or similar arrangement for the sale of goods to any Borrower or any other Loan Party, in each case in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statement filings related thereto;
(p) Liens arising from the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing or discharging Indebtedness issued pursuant to an indenture, but only if such defeasing or discharging of Indebtedness is not prohibited under this Agreement; provided that such Lien covers proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary solely to defease or discharge the principal, interest, premium, if any, and, if required by the terms of the relevant indenture, fees, costs and expenses due in connection with the defeasance of such Indebtedness;
(q) real property title defects or irregularities which are of a minor nature and which do not materially detract from the value of the real property or impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of business;
(r) other Liens that are contractual rights of setoff; and
(s) bankers’ liens upon deposits of funds in favor of banks or other depository institutions (including any right of pledge or right of set-off arising under the general banking conditions of any bank in relation to Deposit Accounts maintained in the Netherlands), solely to the extent incurred in connection with the maintenance of such deposit accounts in the ordinary course of business;
provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness, other than Liens referred to in clause (c) above securing letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments.
“Permitted Liens” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.
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“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan”, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan), that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
“Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.
“Pounds Sterling” or “£” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
“PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario), including the regulations thereto, provided that if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any Lien created hereunder or under any other Loan Document on the Collateral is governed by the personal property security legislation or other applicable legislation with respect to personal property security in effect in a jurisdiction in Canada other than the Province of Ontario, “PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act or such other applicable legislation (including the Civil Code (Quebec)) in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction in Canada for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.
“Primary Concentration Accounts” means a Deposit Account maintained in each of the United States and Canada subject to a Control Agreement.
“Primary Obligor” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Guarantee”.
“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.
“Prior Claims” means (a) all liabilities and obligations of any Canadian Loan Party secured by any Liens, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations, including in the Permitted Discretion of the Administrative Agent, claims for utilities, taxes (including sales taxes, value added taxes, amounts deducted or withheld or not paid and remitted when due under the ITA, excise taxes, goods and services taxes (“GST”) and harmonized sales taxes (“HST”) payable pursuant to Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) or similar taxes under provincial or territorial law), the claims of a labourer or worker (whether full-time or part-time) who is owed wages (including any amounts protected by the Wage Earner Protection ProgramAct (Canada) or secured by Section 81.3 or 81.4 of the BIA), amounts due and not paid for inventory subject to rights of suppliers under Section 81.1 of the BIA or other applicable law (generally known as the “30-day goods rule”), vacation pay, severance pay, employee source deductions, workers’ compensation obligations or pension fund obligations (including claims in respect of, and all amounts currently or past due and not contributed, remitted or paid to, or pursuant to, the Canada Pension Plan, any Canadian Pension Plan or any Canadian Pension Laws and any amounts representing any unfunded liability, solvency deficiency or wind-up deficiency whether or not due with respect to any Canadian Pension Plan, including “normal cost”, “special payments” and any other payments in respect of any funding deficiency or shortfall); and (b) with respect to any German Borrower, any reserve for amounts secured by any liens or other security interests whatsoever, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the liens granted to the Administrative Agent to secure or for other claims and/or deductions for the Secured Obligations, including without limitation, in the reasonable credit judgment of the Administrative Agent, any such amounts due and not paid for wages, or vacation pay, severance pay, employee deductions, income tax, insolvency costs, amounts due and not paid under any legislation relating to workers’ compensation or to employment insurance amounts currently or past due and not paid for realty, municipal or similar taxes (to the extent impacting personal or movable property), sales tax and pension obligations.
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“Priority Payables Reserve” means reserves for Prior Claims or other amounts which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations, including without limitation, in the Permitted Discretion of the Administrative Agent, any such amounts due and not paid for wages, vacation pay, severance pay, employee deductions, income tax, amounts due and not paid under any legislation relating to workers’ compensation or to employment insurance, amounts currently or past due and not paid for Taxes and pension obligations.
“Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to any computation hereunder required to be made on a pro forma basis giving effect to any proposed Investment or other acquisition (including any Permitted Acquisition), any Disposition, any Restricted Payment or any payment of or in respect of any Indebtedness (collectively, “Pro Forma Events”), computation thereof after giving pro forma effect to adjustments in connection with such Pro Forma Event that are in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (other than cost savings and synergies that are only permitted under Regulation S-X as “Management’s Adjustments” by virtue of the amendments adopted on May 21, 2020 by the SEC), using, for purposes of making such computation, the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (and, to the extent applicable, the historical financial statements of any entities or assets so acquired or to be acquired, or so Disposed or to be Disposed), which shall be reformulated as if such Pro Forma Event (and, in the case of any pro forma computations made hereunder to determine whether such Pro Forma Event is permitted to be consummated hereunder, to any other Pro Forma Event consummated since the first day of the period covered by any component of such pro forma computation and on or prior to the date of such computation), and any Indebtedness or other liabilities incurred in connection with any such Pro Forma Event, had been consummated and incurred at the beginning of such period. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such Swap Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months).
“Pro Forma Events” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Pro Forma Basis”.
“Protective Advance” means a U.S. Protective Advance, a Canadian Protective Advance or a European Protective Advance.
“Protective Advance Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the Canadian Protective Advance Exposure, the U.S. Protective Advance Exposure or the European Protective Advance Exposure.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“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).
“Qualified Counterparties” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or any other Person acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.
“Quebec Security Documents” means each deed of hypothec executed among any Canadian Loan Party and the Administrative Agent from time to time under the laws of the Province of Quebec.
“Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
“Reduced Availability Period” means any period (a) commencing at any time when Availability shall be less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Line Cap and (ii) $15,000,000 for three consecutive Business Days and (b) ending when Availability shall have been greater than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $15,000,000 for a period of 30 consecutive days.
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“Refinancing” means the repayment in full of all principal, premium, if any, interest, fees and other amounts due or outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement, the termination of the commitments thereunder, the cancellation or cash collateralization of the letters of credit outstanding thereunder and the discharge and release of the guarantees and liens existing in connection therewith.
“Refinancing Indebtedness” means, in respect of any Indebtedness (the “Original Indebtedness”), any Indebtedness that extends, renews or refinances such Original Indebtedness (or any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof); provided that (a) the principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the issue price) of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the accreted value) of such Original Indebtedness except by an amount no greater than accrued and unpaid interest with respect to such Original Indebtedness; (b) the stated final maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be earlier than that of such Original Indebtedness; (c) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not constitute an obligation (including pursuant to a Guarantee) of any Subsidiary that shall not have been (or, in the case of after-acquired Subsidiaries, shall not have been required to become pursuant to the terms of the Original Indebtedness) an obligor in respect of such Original Indebtedness and shall constitute an obligation of such Subsidiary only to the extent of their obligations in respect of such Original Indebtedness; ~~and~~ (d) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any Lien on any asset other than the assets that secured such Original Indebtedness (or would have been required to secure such Original Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof)~~.~~ and any such Lien securing such Refinancing Indebtedness shall have a Lien priority equal to or junior to the Liens securing the Original Indebtedness; (e) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not have an Average Life (at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred) that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Original Indebtedness; (f) if the Original Indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness, or otherwise subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall also constitute Subordinated Indebtedness, or shall be otherwise subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Secured Parties as those contained in the documentation governing the Original Indebtedness; and (g) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not have a greater ranking or payment priority than the Original Indebtedness.
“Reformed Basel III” means the agreements contained in “Basel III: Finalising post-crisis reforms” published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2017, as amended, supplemented or restated.
“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(b)(v).
“Regulation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(a).
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the directors, officers, partners, members, trustees, employees, agents, administrators, managers, representatives and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the environment.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Dollars, the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto.
“Relevant Rate” means with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.
“Rent Reserve” means, with respect to any leased store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot where any Inventory subject to Liens arising by operation of law is located, a reserve equal to (a) in respect of any store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot not located in Germany, three months’ rent at such store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot, and (b) in the case of any store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot located in Germany, rent for periods subsequent to the current and the following year of the lease less any existing security for such rent at such store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot.
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“Report” means reports prepared by the Administrative Agent or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the Loan Parties’ assets from information furnished by or on behalf of the Loan Parties, after the Administrative Agent has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement, which Reports may be distributed to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent.
“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Credit Exposure and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposure and unused Commitments at such time; provided that, if there are two or more Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) which are not Affiliates of, or Approved Funds with respect to, each other, then at least two (2) such Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) which are not Affiliates of, or Approved Funds with respect to, each other shall be required to constitute Required Lenders.
“Requirement of Law” means, with respect to any Person, collectively, the common law and all federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, multinational or international laws, statutes, codes, treaties, rules and regulations, binding guidelines, ordinances, orders, judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees (including administrative or judicial precedents or authorities) and the binding determinations of, any Governmental Authority, in each case that are applicable to and binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
“Reserves” means, without duplication of any other Reserves or items that are otherwise addressed through eligibility criteria, any and all reserves which the Administrative Agent deems necessary, in its Permitted Discretion, to maintain (including, without limitation, reserves for accrued and unpaid interest on the Secured Obligations, Rent Reserves, Banking Services Reserves, reserves for Swap Obligations, reserves for loyalty programs, reserves for gift card liabilities, reserves for consignee’s, warehousemen’s, mortgagee’s and bailee’s charges, Dilution Reserves, Debt Maturity Reserves, reserves for layaway deposits, reserves for Inventory shrinkage, reserves for customs charges and shipping charges and other foreign landing costs related to any Inventory in transit, reserves for fees payable to an insolvency administrator pursuant to section 171 of the German Insolvency Code (or relevant successor provisions), reserves for contingent liabilities of any Loan Party, reserves for uninsured losses of any Loan Party, reserves for uninsured, underinsured, unindemnified or underindemnified liabilities or potential liabilities with respect to any litigation, reserves for taxes, fees, assessments, and other governmental charges and Priority Payables Reserves, and reserves for extended or extendible retention of title over Accounts) with respect to the Collateral or any Loan Party.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to any Person, its chief financial officer, chief executive officer, president, executive vice president, chief accounting officer or any vice president, managing director (which shall include any Geschäftsführer), director, company secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller or other officer of such Person having substantially the same authority and responsibility and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the applicable Loan Party and the Administrative Agent; provided that, with respect to compliance with financial covenants, “Responsible Officer” shall mean a Financial Officer.
“Restricted Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.11(a)(i).
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment or distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, exchange, conversion, cancellation or termination of any Equity Interests in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Retained Regulation” means the Regulation as it applies under English law, taking into account: (i) its having become part of English domestic law on and after 11:00 p.m. (UK time) on 31 December 2020 (“IP completion day”) pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”); and (ii) any modifications to it that have taken effect on or after IP completion day pursuant to the EUWA or otherwise under English law (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any modifications to it that have taken effect on or after IP completion day under European Union law).
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“Revolving Borrowing” means a Borrowing of Revolving Loans.
“Revolving Exposure” means the U.S. Revolving Exposure, the Canadian Revolving Exposure and the European Revolving Exposure.
“Revolving Exposure Limitations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.
“Revolving Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption (or an Affiliate or branch of any such Person that is acting on behalf of such Person, in which case the term “Revolving Lenders” shall include any such Affiliate or branch with respect to the Revolving Loans made by such Affiliate or branch), other than any such Person that shall have ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.
“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02(a).
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary sells or transfers such property to any Person and the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary leases such property, or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred, from such Person or its Affiliates.
“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any European Union member state, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) a Canadian Blocked Person, (c) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (d) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c) or (e) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.
“Sanctions” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time (a) by the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, (b) by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, or (c) by the government of Canada pursuant to Canadian Economic Sanctions and Export Control Laws.
“Scheduled Maturity Date” has the meaning provided in the definition of “Maturity Date”.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Second Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.22.
“Secured Banking Services Amount” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Secured Banking Services Obligations.
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“Secured Banking Services Obligations” means Banking Services Obligations, for which (i) the applicable Loan Party agrees to provide security pursuant to the documentation governing such Banking Services and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received from the applicable provider of such Banking Services (A) a written notice to the Administrative Agent of (x) the existence of such Banking Services Obligations, (y) the maximum dollar amount of obligations arising thereunder (the “Secured Banking Services Amount”), and (z) the methodology to be used by such parties in determining the Secured Banking Services Amount owing from time to time, and (B) a report, at such times as may be requested by the Administrative Agent, setting forth the then outstanding Secured Banking Services Amount with respect to such Banking Services of such Person; provided that, Banking Services Obligations shall be Secured Banking Services Obligations solely to the extent that (1) there is sufficient Collateral following satisfaction of all of the other Obligations and (2) the aggregate amount of all such Banking Services Obligations does not exceed $2,000,000.
“Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, including any Parallel Debt, together with all Secured Banking Services Obligations of the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Loan Party shall not be Secured Obligations of such Loan Party.
“Securities Account” means all “securities accounts” as such term is defined in the UCC or the PPSA, as applicable.
“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933.
“Security Agreement” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the U.S. Security Agreement, the Canadian Security Agreements and the European Security Agreements.
“Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap” means that the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of Investments by (x) the Loan Parties in, and loans and advances by the Loan Parties to, and Guarantees by the Loan Parties of Indebtedness and other obligations of, Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties and (y) the U.S. Loan Parties in, and loans and advances by the Company and the U.S. Loan Parties to, and Guarantees by the U.S. Loan Parties of Indebtedness and other obligations of, Foreign Loan Parties, in each case of this clause (i), pursuant to clauses (c), (d) and (e) of Section 6.04, (ii) solely to the extent positive, the Net Cash Pooling Investment, and (iii) the aggregate amount of consideration paid by the Loan Parties in connection with Permitted Acquisitions of Subsidiaries that do not become Loan Parties, shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.
“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
“SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s Website or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.
“Sourcing Rights Agreement” means that certain Sourcing Rights Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and among certain of the Loan Parties, Fossil East and the Administrative Agent.
“Specified Collateral” means that portion of the Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property Collateral (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
“Specified Indebtedness” means the 2029 Notes Obligations, Subordinated Indebtedness, unsecured Indebtedness and Indebtedness secured on a junior basis to the Liens securing the Secured Obligations.
“Specified UK SchemeCo” means Fossil (UK) Global Services Ltd.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” of a Person means any Indebtedness of such Person the payment of which is subordinated in right of payment to the payment of the Secured Obligations.
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“subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, (a) any Person the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date and (b) any other Person (i) of which Equity Interests representing more than 50% of the equity value or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (ii) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
“Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company.
“Successful Exchange Transaction” means the consummation of the Exchange Transaction, which Exchange Transaction results in the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2026 Notes being reduced to $15,000,000 (or such higher amount acceptable to the Required Lenders in their sole discretion) or less.
“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions and any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be a Swap Agreement.
“Swap Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Swap Agreement transaction.
“Swiss Borrowers” means each Swiss Subsidiary that becomes party to this Agreement as a Swiss Borrower after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.03(b) or Section 5.25.
“Swiss Borrowing Base” means, in relation to a Swiss Borrower, at any time (without duplication), the Dollar Equivalent amount of the sum of:
(a) the lesser of (x) the product of (i) the Applicable Foreign Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory of that Swiss Borrower at such time and (y) the product of (i) the Applicable Foreign Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Cost of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory of that Swiss Borrower; provided that In-Transit Inventory shall not comprise more than 20% of the total amount of this clause (a), plus
(b) the product of (i) the Applicable Foreign Accounts Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Eligible Accounts of that Swiss Borrower at such time, minus
(c) without duplication, Reserves established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.
The Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion and with no less than two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower Representative (other than during a Dominion Period, in which case notice shall not be required), establish or adjust Reserves used in computing a Swiss Borrowing Base; provided, that (i) no such notice shall be required to reduce any Reserve or to increase any Reserve resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of the amount thereof in accordance with methodology previously established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and (ii) regardless of whether such notice is required, such new or increased Reserve shall be deemed to be in effect immediately for purposes of determining the Revolving Exposure Limitations with respect to any requested Borrowing or other credit extension. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence and the other provisions hereof expressly permitting the Administrative Agent to adjust any Swiss Borrowing Base, a Swiss Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
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Any changes after the Effective Date in how the applicable Loan Parties value their Inventory in accordance with their historical practices prior to the Effective Date shall be subject to the reasonable approval of the Administrative Agent.
“Swiss Collateral” means any and all property of any Swiss Loan Party covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any Swiss Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become, or is intended to be or become, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations.
“Swiss Credit Exposure” means, as to any Revolving Lender at any time, the Dollar Equivalent of the sum of (a) such Revolving Lender’s Swiss Revolving Exposure plus (b) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount of Swiss Overadvances and Swiss Protective Advances outstanding.
“Swiss Federal Tax Administration” means the tax authorities referred to in article 34 of the Swiss Withholding Tax Act for purposes of any tax imposed pursuant to the Swiss Federal Withholding Tax Act.
“Swiss Guarantee” means Article XV of this Agreement.
“Swiss Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.01.
“Swiss Guarantor” means each Swiss Borrower (solely with respect to its Obligations arising pursuant to Section 15.01 hereof) and each Swiss Subsidiary that becomes a party hereto as a Swiss Guarantor pursuant to Section 5.03 or Section 5.25, in each case, until such Swiss Borrower’s or such Swiss Subsidiary’s Swiss Guarantee is released in accordance herewith.
“Swiss Guarantor Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.11(a).
“Swiss Guidelines” means, together, guideline S-02.123 in relation to interbank loans of 22 September 1986 (Merkblatt “Verrechnungssteuer auf Zinsen von Bankguthaben, deren Gläubiger Banken sind (Interbankguthaben)” vom 22. September 1986), circular letter No. 47 in relation to bonds of 25 July 2019 (1-047-V-2019) (Kreisschreiben Nr. 47 “Obligationen” vom 25. Juli 2019), guideline S-02.130.1 in relation to money market instruments and book claims of April 1999 (Merkblatt vom April 1999 betreffend Geldmarktpapiere und Buchforderungeninländischer Schuldner), circular letter No. 46 of 24 July 2019 (1-046-VS-2019) in relation to syndicated credit facilities (Kreisschreiben Nr. 46 “Steuerliche Behandlung von Konsortialdarlehen, Schuldscheindarlehen,Wechseln und Unterbeteiligungen” vom 24. Juli 2019), circular letter No. 34 of 26 July 2011 (1-034-V-2011) in relation to deposits (Kreisschreiben Nr. 34 “Kundenguthaben” vom 26. Juli 2011), the circular letter No. 15 of 3 October 2017 (1-015-DVS-2017) in relation to bonds and derivative financial instruments as subject matter of taxation of Swiss federal income tax, Swiss withholding tax and Swiss stamp taxes (Kreisschreiben Nr. 15“Obligationen und derivative Finanzinstrumente als Gegenstand der direkten Bundessteuer, der Verrechnungssteuer und der Stempelabgaben” vom 3. Oktober 2017) and practice note 010-DVS-2019 of 5 February 2019 published by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration regarding Swiss Withholding Tax in the Group (Mitteilung 010-DVS-2019-d vom 5. Februar 2019 – Verrechnungssteuer: Guthaben im Konzern), in each case as issued, amended or replaced from time to time, by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration or as substituted or superseded and overruled by any law, statute, ordinance, court decision, regulation or the like as in force from time to time.
“Swiss Insolvency Event” means (a) a Swiss Loan Party is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due, suspends or threatens to suspend making payments on any of its debts, or by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness, (b) a Swiss Loan Party is over-indebted within the meaning of article 725b Swiss Federal Code of Obligations (Schweizerisches Obligationenrecht) of 30 March 1911, as amended from time to time (“CO”) unless (i) any such shortfall is covered by a subordination (Rangrücktritt) or (ii) there is a reasonable prospect that the over-indebtedness can be remedied within a reasonable period, but no later than 90 days after submission of the audited
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interim accounts, and that the claims of the creditors are not additionally jeopardized, each within the meaning of article 725b CO, (c) a moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any Swiss Loan Party, or (d) in relation to a Swiss Loan Party, any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation (i) to the opening of bankruptcy proceedings, the suspension of payments in case of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise), (ii) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer, (iii) the enforcement of any security over any assets of any Swiss Loan Party.
“Swiss Loan Parties” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the Swiss Borrowers and each Swiss Guarantor.
“Swiss Non-Bank Rules” means the Swiss Ten Non-Bank Rule and the Swiss Twenty Non-Bank Rule.
“Swiss Non-Qualifying Bank” means a person or entity other than a Swiss Qualifying Bank.
“Swiss Obligated Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.02.
“Swiss Overadvance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(c).
“Swiss Protective Advance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“Swiss Qualifying Bank” means a person or entity that (a) effectively conducts banking activities with its own infrastructure and staff as its principal purpose and (b) has a banking license in full force and effect issued in accordance with the banking laws in force in its jurisdiction of incorporation, or if acting through a branch, issued in accordance with the banking laws in the jurisdiction of such branch, all in accordance with the Swiss Guidelines.
“Swiss Revolving Exposure” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, the outstanding principal amount of Swiss Revolving Loans of such Revolving Lender at such time.
“Swiss Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Loan made by the Revolving Lenders to the Swiss Borrowers.
“Swiss Security Agreements” means, collectively, any Swiss law pledge or security agreement entered into after the Effective Date by any Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Swiss Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company that has been formed or is organized under the laws of Switzerland and/or having its registered office in Switzerland and/or otherwise qualifying as a Swiss resident pursuant to article 9 of the Swiss Withholding Tax Act.
“Swiss Tax Ruling” means a written confirmation or countersigned tax ruling application from the Swiss Federal Tax Administration, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Borrower Representative, confirming that each Lender counts as one (1) Swiss Non-Qualifying Bank only for purposes of the Swiss Non-Bank Rules.
“Swiss Ten Non-Bank Rule” means the rule that the aggregate number of creditors of a Swiss Borrower under this Agreement that are Non-Qualifying Banks must not at any time exceed ten (10), all in accordance with the meaning of the Swiss Guidelines or legislation or explanatory notes addressing the same issues that are in force at such time.
“Swiss Twenty Non-Bank Rule” means the rule that the aggregate number of creditors, other than Qualifying Banks, of a Swiss Borrower under all its outstanding debts relevant for classification as debenture (Kassenobligation) must not at any time exceed twenty (20), all in accordance with the meaning of the Swiss Guidelines or legislation or explanatory notes addressing the same issues that are in force at such time.
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“Swiss Withholding Tax” means taxes imposed under the Swiss Withholding Tax Act.
“Swiss Withholding Tax Act” means the Swiss Federal Act on the Withholding Tax of 13 October 1965 (Bundesgesetz über die Verrechnungssteuer), together with the related ordinances, regulations and guidelines, all as amended and applicable from time to time.
“Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.
“Synthetic Lease Obligations” means, as to any Person, an amount equal to the sum, without duplication, of (a) the obligations of such person to pay rent or other amounts under any Synthetic Lease which are attributable to principal and (b) the amount of any purchase price payment under any Synthetic Lease assuming the lessee exercises the option to purchase the leased property at the end of the lease term. For purposes of Section 6.02, a Synthetic Lease Obligation shall be deemed to be secured by a Lien on the property being leased and such property shall be deemed to be owned by the lessee.
“TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.
“TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system, if any, determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.
“Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) (or a successor administrator).
“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Term SOFR Reference Rate. The Term SOFR Rate may not be the lowest or best rate at which the Administrative Agent calculates interest or extends credit. The Term SOFR Rate (1) for the calendar month in which the Effective Date occurs shall be equal to the Term SOFR Reference Rate in effect as of the close of business on the last Business Day of the calendar month immediately preceding the Effective Date, and (2) for each calendar month thereafter, shall be adjusted (if necessary) on the first day of such calendar month and shall be equal to the Term SOFR Reference Rate in effect as of the close of business on the last Business Day of the immediately preceding calendar month.
“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, a rate equal to SOFR for a term of ninety (90) days and administered by the Term SOFR Administrator as published on commercially available sources providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time.
“Total Assets” means, at any date of determination, the consolidated total assets of the Company as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Month of the Company for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(b)(ii) as adjusted to (i) exclude amounts attributed to Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (ii) give effect to any Pro Forma Event occurring since such date.
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“Total Indebtedness” means, as of any date, the sum, without duplication, of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, in the amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but without giving effect to any election to value any Indebtedness at “fair value”, as described in Section 1.06(a), or any other accounting principle that results in the amount of any such Indebtedness (other than zero coupon Indebtedness) as reflected on such balance sheet to be below the stated principal amount of such Indebtedness), (b) the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, determined on a consolidated basis, and (c) the aggregate obligations of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries as an account party in respect of drawn letters of credit or letters of guaranty, other than contingent obligations in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty to the extent such letter of credit or letter of guaranty does not support Indebtedness.
“Total Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Total Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of twelve consecutive Fiscal Months of the Company most recently ended on or prior to such date.
“Trademarks” has the meaning set forth in the U.S. Security Agreement.
“Trademark Assets” means all Trademarks and, with respect to each Trademark, all technology (patented and unpatented) owned by a Loan Party that exists in support of such Trademark.
“Transactions” means the (a) execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement, the borrowing of the Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, (b) the creation and perfection of the security interests provided for in the Collateral Documents, (c) the Refinancing, and (d) the payment of all fees, commissions, costs and expenses in connection with the foregoing.
“Treaty on the European Union” means the Treaty of Rome of March 25, 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986 and the Maastricht Treaty (signed February 7, 1992), as amended from time to time.
“Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the perfection of security interests created by the Collateral Documents.
“UK Collateral” means any and all property of any UK Loan Party covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any UK Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become, or is intended to be or become, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations.
“UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Guarantee” means Article XVI of this Agreement.
“UK Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.01.
“UK Guarantor” means each UK Subsidiary that is listed on the signature pages hereto as a UK Guarantor or that becomes a party hereto as a UK Guarantor pursuant to Section 5.03, in each case, until such Subsidiary’s UK Guarantee is released in accordance herewith.
“UK Loan Parties” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, each UK Guarantor.
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“UK Obligated Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.02.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“UK Security Agreements” means, collectively, (a) that certain English law all asset security agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, among the UK Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent and (b) any other English law pledge or security agreement (including any supplemental agreement or accession agreement in respect of a UK Security Agreement) entered into after the Effective Date by any other Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“UK Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company incorporated in England and Wales.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Unfinanced Capital Expenditures” means Capital Expenditures (a) not financed with the proceeds of any incurrence of long-term Indebtedness (other than the incurrence of any Loans, Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations) or the proceeds of any sale or issuance of Equity Interests or equity contributions, and (b) that are not reimbursed by a third person (excluding any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates) in the period such expenditures are made pursuant to a written agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Unfinanced Capital Expenditures shall include Capital Expenditures financed with the proceeds of any Loans, Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations.
“United States” or “U.S.” means the United States of America.
“Unliquidated Obligations” means, at any time, any Secured Obligations (or portion thereof) that are contingent in nature or unliquidated at such time, including any Secured Obligation that is: (a) an obligation to reimburse a bank for drawings not yet made under a letter of credit issued by it; (b) any other obligation (including any guarantee) that is contingent in nature at such time; or (c) an obligation to provide collateral to secure any of the foregoing types of obligations.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) at any time prior to the occurrence of a Successful Exchange Transaction, the Specified UK SchemeCo (and no other Subsidiary), so long as the Specified UK SchemeCo has no assets or Subsidiaries, and (b) any Subsidiary of the Company designated by the board of directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.17 following the occurrence of a Successful Exchange Transaction, and any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Unused Commitments” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.12(a).
“Updated Borrowing Base Condition” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.01(m).
“U.S. Availability” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the U.S. Line Cap at such time minus (b) the total U.S. Credit Exposure of all Lenders at such time.
“U.S. Borrowers” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the Company and each U.S. Subsidiary Borrower.
“U.S. Borrowing Base” means, at any time (without duplication), the Dollar Equivalent amount of the sum of:
(a) the lesser of (x) the product of (i) the Applicable U.S. Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory of the U.S. Loan Parties at such time and (y) the product of (i) the Applicable U.S. Inventory Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Cost of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory of the U.S. Loan Parties; provided that In-Transit Inventory shall not comprise more than 20% of the total amount of this clause (a), plus
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(b) the product of (i) the Applicable U.S. Accounts Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Eligible Accounts of the U.S. Loan Parties at such time, plus
(c) the product of (i) the Applicable U.S. Accounts Advance Rate multiplied by (ii) the Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable of the U.S. Loan Parties at such time, plus
(d) at any time (1) prior to the Collateral Designation Date, the lesser of (x) the product of (i) the IP Advance Rate then in effect multiplied by (ii) the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Intellectual Property of the U.S. Loan Parties at such time and (y) the IP Cap then in effect, or (2) after the Collateral Designation Date, $0, minus
(e) at all times prior to the occurrence of a Successful Exchange Transaction, an amount equal to $15,000,000, minus
(f) without duplication, Reserves established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.
The Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion and with no less than two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower Representative (other than during a Dominion Period, in which case notice shall not be required), establish or adjust Reserves used in computing the U.S. Borrowing Base; provided, that (i) no such notice shall be required to reduce any Reserve or to increase any Reserve resulting solely by virtue of mathematical calculations of the amount thereof in accordance with methodology previously established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and (ii) regardless of whether such notice is required, such new or increased Reserve shall be deemed to be in effect immediately for purposes of determining the Revolving Exposure Limitations with respect to any requested Borrowing or other credit extension. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence and the other provisions hereof expressly permitting the Administrative Agent to adjust the U.S. Borrowing Base, the U.S. Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
Any changes after the Effective Date in how the applicable Loan Parties value their Inventory in accordance with their historical practices prior to the Effective Date shall be subject to the reasonable approval of the Administrative Agent.
“U.S. Collateral” means any and all property owned, leased or operated by a Person covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents and any and all other property of any U.S. Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become, or is intended to be or become, subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations.
“U.S. Credit Exposure” means, as to any Revolving Lender at any time, the sum of (a) such Lender’s U.S. Revolving Exposure plus (b) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount of U.S. Overadvances and U.S. Protective Advances outstanding.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) 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. Guarantee” means Article X of this Agreement.
“U.S. Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.
“U.S. Guarantor” means each U.S. Borrower (solely with respect to its Obligations arising pursuant to Section 10.01 hereof) and each Domestic Subsidiary that is listed on the signature pages hereto as a U.S. Guarantor or that becomes a party hereto as a U.S. Guarantor pursuant to Section 5.03, in each case, until such Subsidiary’s U.S. Guarantee is released in accordance herewith.
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“U.S. Line Cap” means, as of any date of determination thereof by the Administrative Agent, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the total Commitments then in effect and (ii) the U.S. Borrowing Base.
“U.S. Loan Parties” means, individually and collectively as the context may require, the U.S. Borrowers and each U.S. Guarantor.
“U.S. Obligated Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02.
“U.S. Overadvance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(c).
“U.S. Overadvance Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding U.S. Overadvances at such time. The U.S. Overadvance Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total U.S. Overadvance Exposure at such time.
“U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Protective Advance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).
“U.S. Protective Advance Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding U.S. Protective Advances at such time. The U.S. Protective Advance Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total U.S. Protective Advance Exposure at such time.
“U.S. Revolving Exposure” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender at any time, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of U.S. Revolving Loans of such Revolving Lender at such time, plus (b) an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s LC Exposure at such time.
“U.S. Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Loan made to the U.S. Borrowers by the Revolving Lenders.
“U.S. Security Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, between the U.S. Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, and, as the context requires, any other pledge or security agreement entered into after the Effective Date by any other U.S. Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), or any other Person, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“U.S. Subsidiary Borrowers” means each Subsidiary of the Company that is listed on the signature pages hereto as a U.S. Subsidiary Borrower and each other U.S. Subsidiary that becomes party to this Agreement as a U.S. Subsidiary Borrower after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.03(b).
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(e)(ii)(B)(3).
“VAT” means:
(a) any value added tax imposed by the United Kingdom’s Value Added Tax Act 1994;
(b) any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112);
(c) any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in the United Kingdom or a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above, or imposed elsewhere; and
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(d) any tax imposed in compliance with the Swiss Federal Act on Value Added Tax of 12 June 2009 as amended from time to time.
“Vendor Rebates” means credits earned from vendors for volume purchases that reduce net inventory costs for the Loan Parties.
“Weekly Reporting Period” means any period (a) during which any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (b)(i) commencing at any time when Availability shall be less than the greater of (x) 20% of the Line Cap then in effect and (y) $25,000,000 for three consecutive Business Days and (ii) ending when Availability shall have been greater than the greater of (x) 20% of the Line Cap then in effect and (y) $25,000,000 for a period of 30 consecutive days.
“wholly-owned”, when used in reference to a subsidiary of any Person, means that all the Equity Interests in such subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares and other nominal amounts of Equity Interests that are required to be held by other Persons under applicable law) are owned, beneficially and of record, by such Person, another wholly-owned subsidiary of such Person or any combination thereof.
“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
“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.
“Zalando” means Zalando SE.
SECTION 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans and Borrowings may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Loan” or a “Term Benchmark Borrowing”) or by Type and Borrower (e.g., a “Term Benchmark U.S. Revolving Loan”).
SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all real and personal, tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders, writs and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Except as otherwise provided herein and unless the context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), and all references to any statute shall be construed as referring to all rules, regulations, rulings and official interpretations promulgated or issued thereunder, (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d)
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the words “herein”, “hereof’ and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof and (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement. References to the Administrative Agent shall be taken to refer also, where the context requires, to the Administrative Agent acting in its capacity as security trustee in connection with the UK Security Agreements.
SECTION 1.04 German Terms. In this Agreement, where it relates to the German Borrowers, a reference to: (a) gross negligence includes grobe Fahrlässigkeit; (b) negligence includes Fahrlässigkeit; (c) a security interest includes any mortgage (Grundschuld, Hypothek), pledge (Pfandrecht), retention of title arrangement (Eigentumsvorbehalt), right of retention (Zurückbehaltungsrecht), right to reclaim goods (Herausgabeansprüche), and, in general, any right in rem created for the purpose of granting security; (d) a winding-up, administration or dissolution (and any of those terms) includes a German entity being declared bankrupt (insolvent) or dissolved (ausfgelöst); (e) any step or procedure taken in connection with insolvency proceedings includes a German entity having applied for bankruptcy (Insolvenzantrag) or the opening of bankruptcy proceedings (Insolvenzeröffnung); and (f) an administrator includes an insolvency administrator (Insolvenzverwalter) and insolvency trustee (Sachwalter).
SECTION 1.05 Quebec Interpretation. For purposes of any Collateral located in the Province of Quebec or charged by any hypothec and for all other purposes pursuant to which the interpretation or construction of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be subject to the laws of the Province of Quebec or a court or tribunal exercising jurisdiction in the Province of Quebec, (a) “personal property” includes “movable property”, (b) “real property” includes “immovable property”, (c) “tangible property” includes “corporeal property”, (d) “intangible property” includes “incorporeal property”, (e) “security interest”, “mortgage”, and “lien” include a “hypothec”, “prior claim”, and a “resolutory clause”, (f) all references to filing, registering, or recording under the UCC or the PPSA include publication under the Civil Code of Quebec, (g) all references to “perfection” of or “perfected” Liens include a reference to “opposable” or “set up” Liens as against third parties, (h) any “right of offset”, “right of setoff”, or similar expression includes a “right of compensation”, (i) “goods” includes “corporeal movable property” other than chattel paper, documents of title, instruments, money, and securities, (j) an “agent” includes a “mandatary”, (k) “construction liens” include “legal hypothecs in favour of persons having taken part in the construction or renovation of an immovable”, (l) “joint and several” includes solidary and “jointly and severally” includes “solidarily”, (m) “gross negligence or willful misconduct” will be deemed to be “intentional or gross fault”, (n) “beneficial ownership” includes “ownership on behalf of another as mandatary”, (o) “easement” includes “servitude”, (p) “priority” includes “prior claim” or rank, as applicable, (q) “survey” includes “certificate of location and plan”, (r) “fee simple title” or “fee owned” include “absolute ownership” and “ownership” (including ownership under a right of superficies), (s) “ground lease” includes an “emphyteusis” or a “lease with a right of superficies”, as applicable, (t) “account” and “accounts receivable” include “claims” and “monetary claims”, (u) “guarantee” and “guarantor” include “suretyship” and “surety”, respectively, (v) “foreclosure” includes “the exercise of a hypothecary right of taking in payment”, (w) “leasehold interest” includes “rights resulting from a lease”, (x) “lease” includes a “leasing contract (crédit-bail)”, and (y) “deposit account” includes a “financial account” as defined in Article 2713.6 of the Civil Code of Quebec. The parties hereto confirm that it is their wish that this Agreement and any other document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated herein be drawn up in the English language only (except if another language is required under any applicable law) and that all other documents contemplated thereunder or relating thereto, including notices, may also be drawn up in the English language only. Each party hereto hereby confirms that it was represented by legal counsel and has had the opportunity to negotiate the terms of this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, including the essential stipulations thereof, with the assistance of its legal counsel. Les parties aux présentes confirment que c’est leur volonté que cette convention etles autres documents de crédit soient rédigés en langue anglaise seulement et que tous les documents, y compris tous avis, envisagés par cette convention et les autres documents peuvent être rédigés enlangue anglaise seulement (sauf si une autre langue est requise en vertu d’une loi applicable). Chaque partie aux présentes confirme qu’elle a été représentée par des conseillers juridiques et a eul’opportunité de négocier les termes de cette convention et des autres documents de crédit, y compris leurs stipulations essentielles, avec l’aide de ses conseillers juridiques.
SECTION 1.06 Accounting Terms; GAAP.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that (a) if the Borrower Representative notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers request an amendment to any provision hereof to
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eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Effective Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith; provided that the Borrower Representative, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and Lenders, on the other hand, agree to negotiate in good faith with respect to any proposed amendment to eliminate or adjust for the effect of any such change in GAAP at no cost to the Loan Parties other than the reimbursement of the Administrative Agent’s costs and expenses; and (b) notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 1.04(a) or in the definition of “Capital Lease Obligations”, any change in accounting for leases pursuant to GAAP resulting from the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“FAS 842”), to the extent such adoption would require treating any lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a capital lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) would not have been required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015, such lease shall not be considered a capital lease, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith.
SECTION 1.07 Currency Matters.
(a) Without limiting the other terms of this Agreement, the calculations and determinations under this Agreement of any amount in any currency other than Dollars shall be deemed to refer to the Dollar Equivalent thereof, as the case may be, and all certificates delivered under this Agreement shall express such calculations or determinations in Dollars or the Dollar Equivalent thereof, as the case may be. The permissibility of actions taken under Article VI on any date based on the requisite currency translation calculated as of such date shall not be affected by subsequent fluctuations in exchange rates.
(b) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognized by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:
(i) any reference in the Loan Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Loan Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Administrative Agent; and
(ii) any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognized by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Administrative Agent.
(c) If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement will, to the extent the Administrative Agent reasonably determines necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the relevant interbank market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency.
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SECTION 1.08 Classification of Actions. For purposes of determining compliance at any time with the covenants set forth in Article VI (or, in each case, any defined terms used therein), in the event that the subject transaction meets the criteria of more than one (or each portion of the subject transaction meets the criteria of one or more) of the categories of transactions permitted pursuant to the Sections (or related defined terms) in Article VI, the Borrowers may, in its sole discretion, and except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, classify the applicable transaction (or any portion thereof) under such Section (or defined term); it being understood that (i) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Borrowers may divide and include such transaction under one or more of the clauses of such Section (or any relevant portion thereof or of the applicable related defined term) that permit such transaction and (ii) the Borrowers may not subsequently reclassify any transaction (or portion thereof) under a different clause of such Section.
SECTION 1.09 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notifications. 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 2.14(d) 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 Borrowers. 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 any 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.
SECTION 1.10 Dutch Terms
(a) Without prejudice to the generality of any provision of this Agreement, in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, where it relates to a Dutch Loan Party, a reference to:
(b) “constitutional documents” includes an up-to-date certified excerpt (uittreksel) from the trade register (handelsregister) of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel), a certified copy of the deed of incorporation (oprichtingsakte), an up-to-date and certified copy of the articles of association (statuten) and a copy of any (board or other) regulations ((bestuurs-)reglement);
(c) “administrator” includes a bewindvoerder;
(d) “attachment” includes any beslag;
(e) “dissolution” includes ontbinding;
(f) “encumbrance” includes any bezwaring;
(g) “lien” includes retentierecht;
(h) “mortgage” includes hypotheekrecht;
(i) “necessary corporate or other organizational action” includes obtaining a unconditional positive advice from any competent works council (ondernemingsraad);
(j) “admitting in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due” includes a director (bestuurder) making a filing under section 36 of the Dutch Tax Collection Act (Invorderingswet 1990);
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(k) “pledge” includes pandrecht;
(l) “title retention” includes eigendomsvoorbehoud;
(m) “setoff” includes verrekening; and
(n) “trustee” includes a curator.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01 Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make U.S. Revolving Loans to the U.S. Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make Canadian Revolving Loans to the Canadian Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period, and each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make European Revolving Loans to the European Borrowers from time to time during the European Availability Period, in each case, in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in:
(i) the U.S. Revolving Exposure of any Revolving Lender exceeding such U.S. Revolving Lender’s Commitment;
(ii) the U.S. Revolving Exposure exceeding the U.S. Line Cap then in effect;
(iii) the Canadian Revolving Exposure exceeding the Canadian Line Cap then in effect;
(iv) the German Revolving Exposure to a German Borrower exceeding the German Borrowing Base of that German Borrower then in effect;
(v) the Swiss Revolving Exposure to a Swiss Borrower exceeding the Swiss Borrowing Base of that Swiss Borrower then in effect;
(vi) the European Revolving Exposure exceeding the European Line Cap; or
(vii) the aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeding the Line Cap;
subject to the Administrative Agent’s authority, in its sole discretion, to make Protective Advances pursuant to the terms of Section 2.04. The limitations on Borrowings referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) are referred to collectively as the “Revolving Exposure Limitations”. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.
SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.
(a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type and Borrower made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. Any Protective Advance and any Overadvance shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04 or 2.05, as applicable.
(b) All Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars. Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing (other than Protective Advances and Overadvances) denominated in Dollars shall be comprised entirely of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate Loans. Each Overadvance shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Term Benchmark 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 Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
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(c) At the time that each Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of the Dollar Equivalent of $1,000,000 and not less than the Dollar Equivalent of $2,000,000.
SECTION 2.03 Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a Borrowing of Revolving Loans, the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request either in writing (delivered by hand or through Electronic System if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent) in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower Representative (or if an Extenuating Circumstance shall exist, by telephone) 11:00 a.m., New York City time, two Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and each such telephonic Borrowing Request, if permitted, shall be confirmed immediately upon the cessation of the Extenuating Circumstance by hand delivery, facsimile or a communication through Electronic System to the Administrative Agent, of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower Representative. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.01:
(i) whether such Loans are being made to the U.S. Borrowers, the Canadian Borrowers, the German Borrowers or the Swiss Borrowers (and specifying such applicable Borrower(s));
(ii) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing and the manner in which the proceeds of such Borrowing are to be disbursed (which shall be consistent with Section 2.07 and subject to Section 2.02(d)); and
(iii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day.
If no election as to the currency of any Borrowing is specified, then such Borrowing shall be denominated in Dollars. Promptly (and in any event within one (1) Business Day) following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04 Protective Advances.
(a) Subject to the limitations set forth below, the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrowers and the Lenders, from time to time in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion (but shall have absolutely no obligation), to make (i) Loans to the U.S. Borrowers in Dollars on behalf of the Revolving Lenders (each such Loan, a “U.S. Protective Advance”), (ii) Loans to the Canadian Borrowers in Dollars on behalf of the Revolving Lenders (each such Loan, a “Canadian Protective Advance”), (iii) Loans to the German Borrowers in Dollars on behalf of the Revolving Lenders (each such Loan, a “German Protective Advance”), (iv) Loans to the Swiss Borrowers in Dollars on behalf of the Revolving Lenders (each such Loan, a “Swiss Protective Advance”, and, together with the German Protective Advance, the “European Protective Advance”), which the Administrative Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, deems necessary or appropriate (A) to preserve or protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (B) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Loans and other Obligations, or (C) to pay any other amount chargeable to or required to be paid by the applicable Borrower(s) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including payments of reimbursable expenses (including costs, fees, and expenses as described in Section 9.03) and other sums payable under the Loan Documents; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding U.S. Protective Advances, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding U.S. Overadvances, shall not at any time exceed 15% of the total U.S. Borrowing Base then in effect, (ii) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent of outstanding Canadian Protective Advances, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Canadian Overadvances, shall not at any time exceed 10% of the total Canadian Borrowing Base then in effect, (iii) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent of outstanding German Protective Advances, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding German Overadvances, shall not at any time exceed 10% of the total of the German Borrowing Base then in effect, (iv) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent of outstanding Swiss Protective Advances, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swiss Overadvances, shall not at any time exceed 10% of the total of the Swiss Borrowing Base then in effect, and (v) the aggregate Credit Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Commitments. Protective Advances may be made even if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have not been satisfied. All Protective Advances shall be ABR Borrowings. The Administrative Agent’s authorization to make Protective Advances may be revoked at any time by the Required Lenders. Any such revocation must be in writing and shall become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof. At any time that the making
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of such U.S. Revolving Loan would not violate the Revolving Exposure Limitations and the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have been satisfied, the Administrative Agent may request the Revolving Lenders to make a U.S. Revolving Loan in Dollars to repay any U.S. Protective Advance. At any other time the Administrative Agent may require the Revolving Lenders to fund in Dollars their risk participations described in Section 2.04(b) in any U.S. Protective Advance. At any time that the making of such Canadian Revolving Loan would not violate the Revolving Exposure Limitations and the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have been satisfied, the Administrative Agent may request the Revolving Lenders to make a Canadian Revolving Loan in Dollars to repay any Canadian Protective Advance. At any other time the Administrative Agent may require the Revolving Lenders to fund in Dollars their risk participations described in Section 2.04(b) in any Canadian Protective Advance. At any time that the making of such German Revolving Loan would not violate the Revolving Exposure Limitations and the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have been satisfied, the Administrative Agent may request the Revolving Lenders to make a German Revolving Loan in Dollars to repay any German Protective Advance. At any other time the Administrative Agent may require the Revolving Lenders to fund in Dollars their risk participations described in Section 2.04(b) in any German Protective Advance. At any time that the making of such Swiss Revolving Loan would not violate the Revolving Exposure Limitations and the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have been satisfied, the Administrative Agent may request the Revolving Lenders to make a Swiss Revolving Loan in Dollars to repay any Swiss Protective Advance. At any other time the Administrative Agent may require the Revolving Lenders to fund in Dollars their risk participations described in Section 2.04(b) in any Swiss Protective Advance.
(b) The Administrative Agent may by notice given not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of any Protective Advance outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the aggregate principal amount of the Protective Advance in which the Lenders will be required to participate, the currency thereof and each Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Protective Advance. Each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each such Protective Advance. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Protective Advances pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including nonsatisfaction of any of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02, the occurrence and continuance of a Default or any reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Revolving Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders pursuant to this paragraph). From and after the date, if any, on which any Lender has paid in full for its participation in any Protective Advance purchased hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage of all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such Protective Advance; provided that any such payment or proceeds so distributed shall be repaid to the Administrative Agent if and to the extent such payment or proceeds is required to be refunded to the applicable Borrower(s) for any reason. The purchase of participations in any Protective Advance pursuant to this paragraph shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrowers of their respective obligations to repay such Protective Advance.
SECTION 2.05 Overadvances.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) [Reserved]
(c) Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, at the request of the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent may in its sole discretion (but shall have absolutely no obligation) make (i) Loans to the U.S. Borrowers in Dollars on behalf of the Revolving Lenders (each such Loan, a “U.S. Overadvance”), (ii) Loans to the Canadian Borrowers in Dollars on behalf of the Revolving Lenders (each such Loan, a “Canadian Overadvance”), (iii) [reserved], (iv) Loans to the German Borrowers in Dollars on behalf of the Revolving Lenders (each such Loan, a “German Overadvance”), (v) [reserved], (vi) Loans to the Swiss Borrowers in Dollars on behalf of the Revolving Lenders (each such Loan, a “Swiss Overadvance”, and, together with the German Overadvance, the “European Overadvance”); provided that (1) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding U.S. Overadvances, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding U.S. Protective Advances, shall not at any time exceed
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15% of the total U.S. Borrowing Base then in effect, (2) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent of outstanding Canadian Overadvances, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Canadian Protective Advances, shall not at any time exceed 10% of the total Canadian Borrowing Base then in effect, (3) [reserved], (4) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent of outstanding German Overadvances, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding German Protective Advances, shall not at any time exceed 10% of the total of the German Borrowing Bases then in effect, (5) [reserved], (6) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent of outstanding Swiss Overadvances, when aggregated with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swiss Protective Advances, shall not at any time exceed 10% of the total of the Swiss Borrowing Base then in effect, (7) [reserved] and (8) the aggregate Credit Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Commitments. Overadvances may be made even if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have not been satisfied. (A) All U.S. Overadvances, German Overadvances and Swiss Overadvances shall be ABR Borrowings and (B) all Canadian Overadvances shall be ABR Borrowings. The applicable Borrowers shall be required to repay each Overadvance no later than the 30th day after the date of the making thereof. The Administrative Agent’s authorization to make Overadvances may be revoked at any time by the Required Lenders. Any such revocation must be in writing and shall become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof.
(d) Upon the making of an Overadvance by the Administrative Agent, each applicable Revolving Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the Administrative Agent, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Overadvance in proportion to its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Commitments. The Administrative Agent may, at any time, require the applicable Revolving Lenders to fund their participations. From and after the date, if any, on which any Revolving Lender is required to fund its participation in any Overadvance purchased hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to such Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such Loan.
SECTION 2.06 Letters of Credit.
(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower Representative may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars for the account of a U.S. Borrower, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period, and the Administrative Agent agrees to cause to have such Letter of Credit issued by the applicable Issuing Bank. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 2.06(n), any Letter of Credit hereunder for the account of a U.S. Borrower may be for the benefit of a Restricted Subsidiary of such Borrower whether or not a Borrower. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Issuing Bank shall have an obligation hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit (i) the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (A) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of any Sanctions or (B) in any manner that would result in a violation of any applicable Sanctions by any party to this Agreement, (ii) if any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of Law relating to such Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Effective Date and which such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it, or (iii) if the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof, and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed not to be in effect on the Effective Date for purposes of clause (ii) above, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented; provided, further, that there shall not be more than a total of five (5) Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at any time. The Borrower Representative shall be responsible for preparing or approving the final text of each Letter of Credit as issued by Issuing Bank, irrespective of any assistance Issuing Bank may provide such as drafting or recommending text or by Issuing Bank’s use or refusal to use text submitted by the Borrower Representative. The U.S. Borrowers are solely responsible for the suitability of each Letter of Credit.
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(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit (other than an automatic renewal permitted pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section), the Borrower Representative shall deliver by hand or electronic transmission (or transmit through Electronic System, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent) to the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit (together with a copy of the agreed form Letter of Credit), or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, specifying the Borrower(s) or Restricted Subsidiary for whose account such Letter of Credit is to be issued, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the currency in which such Letter of Credit will be denominated (which shall be Dollars), the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. By submitting a request to the Administrative Agent for the issuance of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have requested that the applicable Issuing Bank issue the requested Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent’s records of the content of any such request will be conclusive. In addition, as a condition to any such Letter of Credit issuance, the Borrower Representative shall have entered into a continuing agreement (or other letter of credit agreement) for the issuance of letters of credit and/or shall submit a letter of credit application in each case, as required by the applicable Issuing Bank and using such bank’s standard form (each, a “Letter of Credit Agreement”). A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrowers shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, (i) the total LC Exposure shall not exceed $5,000,000 and (ii) the Revolving Exposure Limitations shall be complied with.
(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date. Any Letter of Credit may provide by its terms that it may be automatically extended for additional successive one year periods on terms reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank. Any Letter of Credit providing for automatic extension shall be extended upon the then current expiration date without any further action by any Person unless the applicable Issuing Bank shall have given notice to the applicable beneficiary (with a copy to the applicable Borrower) of the election by such Issuing Bank not to extend such Letter of Credit, such notice to be given not fewer than 30 days prior to the then current expiration date of such Letter of Credit; provided that no Letter of Credit may be extended automatically or otherwise beyond the date that is five Business Days prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date.
(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay, in Dollars, to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Dollar Equivalent of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the U.S. Borrowers on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the U.S. Borrowers for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default, reduction or termination of the Commitments or any force majeure or other event that under any rule of law or uniform practices to which any Letter of Credit is subject (including Section 3.14 of ISP 98 or any successor publication of the International Chamber of Commerce) permits a drawing to be made under such Letter of Credit after the expiration thereof or of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
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(e) Reimbursement. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the U.S. Borrowers shall, following notice of such LC Disbursement to the Borrower Representative, reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent, in the currency of the Letter of Credit to which such LC Disbursement relates, an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower Representative shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower Representative prior to such time on such date, then not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that the U.S. Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with a Borrowing in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the U.S. Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Borrowing. If the U.S. Borrowers fail to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each applicable Revolving Lender of the Dollar Equivalent of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the applicable U.S. Borrower in respect thereof and such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each applicable Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the applicable U.S. Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to such Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the applicable Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the U.S. Borrowers pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that any Revolving Lender has made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to each such Revolving Lender and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of Revolving Loans as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the applicable U.S. Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.
(f) Obligations Absolute. The U.S. Borrowers’ obligations to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section are absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not substantially comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, (iv) any force majeure or other event that under any rule of law or uniform practices to which any Letter of Credit is subject (including Section 3.14 of ISP 98 or any successor publication of the International Chamber of Commerce) permits a drawing to be made under such Letter of Credit after the stated expiration date thereof or of the Commitments or (v) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers’ obligations hereunder. No Lender Party, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any other act, failure to act or other event or circumstance; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the applicable Borrower(s) to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by such Borrower(s) that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Issuing Bank (with such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final
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and nonappealable judgment), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, an Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
(g) Disbursement Procedures. Each Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Each Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative by telephone (confirmed by fax or through Electronic Systems) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the applicable Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement; provided, further, that until the Administrative Agent advises any such Issuing Bank that the provisions of Section 4.02 are not satisfied, such Issuing Bank shall be required to so notify the Administrative Agent in writing only once each week of the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the immediately preceding week as well as the daily amounts outstanding for the prior week, such notice to be furnished on such day of the week as Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank may agree.
(h) Interim Interest. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the U.S. Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, in the currency of the Letter of Credit to which such LC Disbursement relates, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the U.S. Borrowers reimburse such LC Disbursement in full, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the U.S. Borrowers fail to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(h) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Revolving Lender to the extent of such payment, and shall be payable on demand or, if no demand has been made, on the date on which the applicable Borrower(s) reimburse the applicable LC Disbursement in full.
(i) Replacement and Resignation of the Issuing Banks.
(i) Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the U.S. Borrowers shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(ii) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, an Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower Representative and the Lenders, in which case, such resigning Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with clause (i) of Section 2.06(i) above.
(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, (i) the U.S. Borrowers shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the applicable Revolving Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash in the currencies in which such LC Exposure is denominated equal
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to 105% of the LC Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued for the account of the U.S. Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligations to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Company or other applicable Borrower described in clause (h), (i) or (j) of Article VII. Such deposits shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the U.S. Obligations arising from LC Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued for the account of the U.S. Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries as further set forth in the applicable Collateral Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over the LC Collateral Account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the U.S. Borrowers’ risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in the LC Collateral Account. Moneys in the LC Collateral Account shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Collateral Documents, be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the applicable Issuing Banks for LC Disbursements for which they have not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the U.S. Borrowers for the LC Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy the Secured Obligations (but subject to, in the case of any such application at a time when any Lender is a Defaulting Lender (but only if, after giving effect thereto, the remaining cash collateral shall be less than the aggregate LC Exposure of all the Defaulting Lenders that has not been reallocated to non-Defaulting Lenders pursuant to Section 2.20), the consent of each Issuing Bank). If any Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to such Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.
(k) [Reserved].
(l) Issuing Bank Reports to the Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall, in addition to its notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section, report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) periodic activity (for such period or recurrent periods as shall be requested by the Administrative Agent) in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, including all issuances, extensions (other than any extension of a Letter of Credit providing for automatic extension), amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancelations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) reasonably prior to the time that such Issuing Bank issues, amends, renews or extends any Letter of Credit (other than any extension of a Letter of Credit providing for automatic extension), the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the stated amount and currency of the Letters of Credit issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amounts thereof shall have changed), (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any LC Disbursement, the date and amount and currency of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which the applicable Borrower(s) fail to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount cue and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.
(m) LC Exposure Determination. For all purposes of this Agreement, the amount of a Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at the time of determination.
(n) Letters of Credit Issued for Restricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary, the U.S. Borrowers shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. Each U.S. Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit requested by such U.S. Borrower for the account of Restricted Subsidiaries of such U.S. Borrower inures to the benefit of such U.S. Borrower, and that such U.S. Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Restricted Subsidiaries.
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SECTION 2.07 Funding of Borrowings.
(a) Each Lender shall make each Revolving Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 1:00 p.m., New York City time, in each case, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Revolving Lenders. Subject to Section 2.02(d), the Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the applicable Borrower(s) by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to the Funding Account(s); provided that Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of (i) an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank and (ii) a Protective Advance or Overadvance shall be retained by the Administrative Agent.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Revolving Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance on such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower(s) 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 applicable Borrower(s) severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrower(s) to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of (x) the Defaulting Lender Rate and (y) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrowers, (w) in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, the interest rate applicable to Adjusted Term SOFR Rate Loans, and (x) [reserved]. If the applicable Borrower(s) 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 applicable Borrower(s) the amount of such interest paid by the Borrowers for such period. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by any Borrower(s) pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be without prejudice to any claim such Borrower(s) may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 2.08 [Reserved].
SECTION 2.09 Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Commitments.
(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall automatically terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Maturity Date, or any earlier date on which the Commitments are reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.
(b) The Borrower Representative may at any time terminate the Commitments upon (i) the payment in full of all outstanding Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and on any LC Disbursements, (ii) the cancellation and return of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or alternatively, with respect to each such Letter of Credit, the furnishing to the Administrative Agent of a cash deposit (or at the discretion of the Administrative Agent a backup standby letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) equal to 105% of the portion of the LC Exposure attributable to all Letters of Credit, as determined by the applicable Issuing Banks), (iii) the payment in full of all accrued and unpaid fees (including any Commitment Reduction Fee) and (iv) the payment in full of all reimbursable expenses and all other Obligations outstanding at such time.
(c) The Borrower Representative may from time to time reduce the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000, (ii) the Borrower Representative shall not reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the Borrowers would not be in compliance with the Revolving Exposure Limitations, and (iii) concurrently with the effectiveness of such reduction, the Borrower Representative shall pay any Commitment Reduction Fee that is due and payable in connection therewith.
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(d) The Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section at least ten Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Revolving Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower Representative pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower Representative may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower Representative (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
SECTION 2.10 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Borrowers hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally promise to pay to (i) the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Revolving Lender, the principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) the Administrative Agent the then unpaid amount of each Protective Advance and Overadvance, in each case, on the earliest of (A) the Maturity Date, (B) in the case of any Overadvance, the earlier of the 30th day after the date of the making thereof and the date of demand by the Administrative Agent and (C) in the case of any Protective Advance, demand by the Administrative Agent.
(b) On each Business Day during any Dominion Period, the Administrative Agent may (and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall) apply all funds credited to a Concentration Account or Collection Account on such Business Day or the immediately preceding Business Day (at the discretion of the Administrative Agent, whether or not immediately available) to the Obligations, which funds shall be applied first, to prepay any Protective Advances and Overadvances, second, to prepay the Revolving Loans, third, to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure, and fourth, as the Borrower Representative may direct. Further, all amounts received in a Concentration Account or Collection Account shall be applied pursuant to this paragraph (b) first against Protective Advances, Overadvances and Revolving Loans denominated in like currency to the currency of the moneys in such Concentration Account or Collection Account. In the event and to the extent that any Protective Advances, Overadvances or Revolving Loans remain unpaid (the “Payment and Collateralization Requirements”) following such application as a result of a mismatch between the currencies of the amounts in the Concentration Accounts or Collection Accounts and the currencies in which the outstanding Payment and Collateralization Requirements are denominated, the relevant Borrower shall be deemed to have requested the Administrative Agent to convert any excess funds remaining in the Concentration Accounts or Collection Accounts to the currency or currencies of the outstanding Payment and Collateralization Requirements and apply such converted amounts to such outstanding Payment and Collateralization Requirements.
(c) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the applicable Borrower(s) to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender to such Borrower(s), including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder to the applicable Borrower(s) and the Type thereof, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the applicable Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.
(e) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrowers to pay any amounts due hereunder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(f) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the applicable Borrowers shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent.
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SECTION 2.11 Prepayment of Loans.
(a) Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (h) of this Section.
(b) Revolving Exposure Limitations. Except to the extent such excess arises from Protective Advances permitted under Section 2.04 or Overadvances permitted under Section 2.05, in the event and on each occasion that the Borrowers are not in compliance with the Revolving Exposure Limitations, the Canadian Borrowers, the European Borrowers and the U.S. Borrowers shall severally prepay the Revolving Loans (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit cash collateral in the LC Collateral Account in accordance with Section 2.06(j)) of such Borrower(s) in an aggregate amount that, after giving effect to such prepayments or cash collateralizations the Borrowers shall be in compliance with the Revolving Exposure Limitations.
(c) Dispositions.
(i) Promptly (but in any event, within one (1) Business Day) following the date of receipt (or, if a Dominion Period has occurred and is continuing, concurrently with receipt) by any Loan Party of the Net Cash Proceeds of any voluntary or involuntary Disposition by any Loan Party of any Accounts included in any Borrowing Base, such Loan Party shall prepay the Revolving Loans in an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds in excess of (x) $1,000,000 for any such Disposition individually or (y) $2,500,000 in the aggregate for all such Dispositions during any Fiscal Year; and
(ii) Promptly (but in any event, within one (1) Business Day) following the date of receipt (or, if a Dominion Period has occurred and is continuing, concurrently with receipt) by any Loan Party of the Net Cash Proceeds of any voluntary or involuntary Disposition by any Loan Party of any assets constituting Collateral (other than (x) Accounts included in the Borrowing Base and (y) Notes Priority Collateral so long as the Notes Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) remain outstanding and the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect) (including casualty losses or condemnations but excluding Dispositions permitted under Sections 6.05(a), (b), (c), (e), (k) and (l)), such Loan Party shall prepay the Revolving Loans in an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds (including condemnation awards and payments in lieu thereof) in excess of (x) $1,000,000 for any such Disposition individually or (y) $2,500,000 in the aggregate for all such Dispositions during any Fiscal Year; provided that, so long as (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (B) the Borrower Representative shall have given the Administrative Agent prior written notice of such Loan Party’s intention to apply such monies to the costs of replacement of the properties or assets that are the subject of such Disposition or the cost of purchase or construction of other assets useful in the business of such Loan Party, and (C) such Loan Party completes such replacement, purchase, or construction within 180 days after the initial receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, then such Loan Party shall have the option to apply such Net Cash Proceeds to the costs of replacement of the assets that are the subject of such Disposition or the costs of purchase or construction of other assets useful in the business of such Loan Party unless and to the extent that such applicable period shall have expired without such replacement, purchase, or construction being made or completed, in which case, any amounts remaining shall be paid to the Administrative Agent and applied in accordance with this paragraph (c)(ii).
(iii) Nothing contained in this paragraph (c) shall permit any Loan Party to Dispose of any assets other than in accordance with Section 6.05.
(d) Extraordinary Receipts. Promptly (but in any event, within one (1) Business Day) following the date of receipt (or, if a Dominion Period has occurred and is continuing, concurrently with receipt) by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Extraordinary Receipts, such Loan Party shall, to the extent permitted under paragraph (g) of this Section, prepay the Revolving Loans, in an amount equal to 100% of such Extraordinary Receipts in excess of (x) $1,000,000 individually or (y) $2,500,000 in the aggregate during any Fiscal Year, net of any reasonable expenses or costs (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Taxes) incurred in collecting and paying over such Extraordinary Receipts.
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(e) Indebtedness. Concurrently with the incurrence or issuance by any Loan Party or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01), such Loan Party shall prepay the Revolving Loans (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit cash collateral in the LC Collateral Account in accordance with Section 2.06(j)) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection with such incurrence or issuance. The provisions of this paragraph (e) shall not be deemed to be implied consent to any such incurrence or issuance otherwise prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.
(f) Equity. Promptly (but in any event, within one (1) Business Day) following the date of the issuance by (or, if a Dominion Period has occurred and is continuing, concurrently with such issuance) the Company of any Equity Interests (other than the issuance of Equity Interests of the Company to directors, contractors, officers and employees (or similar persons) of the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to employee stock option plans (or other employee incentive plans or other compensation arrangements), the Company shall prepay the Revolving Loans in an amount equal to 50% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by Company in connection with such issuance. The provisions of this paragraph (f) shall not be deemed to be implied consent to any such issuance otherwise prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.
(g) Collateral and Proceeds Limitations.
(i) [Reserved].
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.11, with respect to any amount of Extraordinary Receipts received by a Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Loan Party), in the event the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent determine in good faith that the upstreaming of cash equal to such amount by such Foreign Subsidiary (i) would violate any local Law (e.g., financial assistance, thin capitalization, corporate benefit, restrictions on upstreaming of cash intra-group or the fiduciary and statutory duties of the directors of such Subsidiary) or any term of any organizational document applicable to such Foreign Subsidiary, or (ii) would cause any material adverse tax consequence to the applicable Borrower, its parent entities or its Subsidiaries, taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually available in connection with such upstreaming of cash in the year of such upstreaming of cash (which basis for and calculations of such material adverse tax consequences shall be set forth in reasonable detail in a written notice of the Borrower Representative delivered to the Administrative Agent), then, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such amount shall be excluded from such prepayment requirement in respect of the applicable Obligations until the Borrower Representative determines in good faith that such Foreign Subsidiary may repatriate such amounts without such material adverse consequences (at which time such amount shall be subject to such prepayment requirement); provided, that if and to the extent any such upstreaming ceases to be prohibited or delayed by applicable local law at any time during the one (1) year period immediately following the date on which the applicable mandatory prepayment was required to be made, the applicable Loan Parties shall reasonably promptly upstream, or cause to be upstreamed, an amount equal to such portion of the excluded prepayment amount attributable thereto (net of any costs related to such upstreaming or incremental Taxes payable as a result thereof), and the applicable Loan Parties shall reasonably promptly pay such portion of such prepayment amount to the Lenders.
(h) Prepayment Notice. The Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent, by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery or through Electronic System, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Administrative Agent) of any prepayment hereunder not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Revolving Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13.
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SECTION 2.12 Fees.
(a) The Borrower Representative agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee in Dollars, which shall accrue at the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate on the daily amount by which the aggregate total Commitments exceed the aggregate Revolving Loans and LC Exposure (such excess amount, the “Unused Commitments”) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which the Commitments terminate. Commitment fees accrued through and including the last day of each calendar month shall be payable in arrears on the first day of the following calendar month, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date, and on the date on which the Commitments terminate. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed.
(b) The Borrower Representative agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a letter of credit fee in Dollars with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which, subject to Section 2.13(h), shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans (as in effect from time to time) on the average daily Dollar Equivalent of such Revolving Lender’s applicable LC Exposure in respect of such Letters of Credit (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Revolving Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Revolving Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure in respect of such Borrower(s)’ Letters of Credit. In addition, the Borrower Representative agrees to pay to each Issuing Bank a fronting fee in Dollars, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to 0.50% of the average daily Dollar Equivalent of the LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued for the account of the U.S. Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries by such Issuing Bank (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued for the account of the U.S. Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any such Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of each calendar month shall be payable on the first day of the following calendar month, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Banks pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed.
(c) The Borrower Representative agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Lender Parties, fees in the amounts and payable at the times separately agreed upon in the Agent Fee Letter or the Fee Letter or as otherwise agreed between the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the applicable Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances (absent manifest error in the amount paid).
SECTION 2.13 Interest.
(a) Dollar Denominated Revolving Loans.
(i) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (excluding U.S. Protective Advances and U.S. Overadvances) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(ii) The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars shall bear interest at the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
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(b) [Reserved].
(c) [Reserved].
(d) [Reserved].
(e) [Reserved].
(f) Each Protective Advance and Overadvance shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for ABR Revolving Loans plus 2% per annum.
(g) [Reserved].
(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (automatically upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under clause (h), (i) or (j) of Article VII, or at the election of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders during the continuance of any other Event of Default, which election may be effective retroactively to the date such Event of Default first occurred), (i) the outstanding principal amount of the Loans shall bear interest at 2% per annum plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section, (ii) letter of credit participation fees shall accrue at 2% per annum plus the rate otherwise applicable to Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.12(b), (iii) the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate under clause (a) of the definition thereof shall be 2% per annum plus the rate otherwise applicable thereunder (provided that the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate under clause (b) of the definition thereof shall remain unchanged), and (iv) all other outstanding Obligations shall bear interest at 2% per annum plus the rate applicable to ABR Revolving Loans hereunder.
(i) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the Commitments; provided that interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (h) of this Section shall be payable on demand.
(j) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365/366 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Term SOFR Rate (other than ABR Loans determined by reference to the Term SOFR Rate) and all fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Term SOFR Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(k) InterestAct (Canada). For purposes of disclosure pursuant to the Interest Act (Canada), the annual rates of interest or fees to which the rates of interest or fees provided in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (and stated herein or therein, as applicable, to be computed on the basis of 360 days or any other period of time less than a calendar year) are equivalent are the rates so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in the applicable calendar year and divided by 360 or such other period of time, respectively.
(l) Limitation on Interest. If any provision of this Agreement or of any of the other Loan Documents would obligate any Canadian Loan Party to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to the Lenders in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by law or would result in a receipt by the Lenders of interest at a criminal rate (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)) then, notwithstanding such provisions, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law or so result in a receipt by the Lenders of interest at a criminal rate, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary, as follows: (1) firstly, by reducing the amount or rate of interest required to be paid to the Lenders under this Section 2.13, and (2) thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to the Lenders which would constitute “interest” for purposes of Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and after giving effect to all adjustments contemplated thereby, if the Lenders shall have received an amount in excess of the maximum permitted by that section of the Criminal Code (Canada), the Canadian Loan Parties shall be entitled, by notice in writing to the Administrative Agent, to obtain reimbursement from the Lenders in an amount equal to such excess
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and, pending such reimbursement, such amount shall be deemed to be an amount payable by the Lenders to the Borrowers. Any amount or rate of interest referred to in this Section 2.13(l) shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles as an effective annual rate of interest over the term that the applicable Loan remains outstanding on the assumption that any charges, fees or expenses that fall within the meaning of “interest” (as defined in the Criminal Code (Canada)) shall, if they relate to a specific period of time, be prorated over that period of time and otherwise be prorated over the period from the Effective Date to the Maturity Date and, in the event of a dispute, a certificate of a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries appointed by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive for the purposes of such determination.
(m) [Reserved].
(n) Swiss Minimum Interest Rate. The interest rates provided for the Swiss Borrower (and any Swiss Subsidiary) are minimum interest rates. The parties hereto have assumed, on the date of this Agreement, that Swiss Withholding Tax is not and will not become payable by the Swiss Borrower (and any Swiss Subsidiary) on interest payments under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Swiss Borrower (and any Swiss Subsidiary) acknowledges and agrees that the interest rates set out in this Agreement are minimum interest rates which shall be adjusted in accordance with subsection (o) below if Swiss Withholding Tax becomes payable at any time on interest payments by the Swiss Borrower (and any Swiss Subsidiary) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(o) Swiss Withholding Tax. If Swiss Withholding Tax applies on interest payments by the Swiss Borrower (and any Swiss Subsidiary) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the gross-up and indemnity provisions of Section 2.17(a) and Section 2.17(d) shall not apply, but instead the following shall apply, provided that the relevant Swiss Withholding Tax is not an Excluded Tax:
(i) The Swiss Borrower (and any Swiss Subsidiary) shall pay such additional amounts as shall be necessary in order for the net amounts received by the Lenders after withholding of Swiss Withholding Tax to be equal to the respective amounts of interest which would otherwise have been receivable in respect of this Agreement in the absence of the withholding of Swiss Withholding Tax;
(ii) Swiss Withholding Tax shall be calculated, deducted and paid by the Swiss Borrower (and any Swiss Subsidiary) to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration on the amount of interest so recalculated at a rate of currently thirty five percent (35%) (or such other rate as applicable from time to time), unless a tax ruling obtained from the Swiss Federal Tax Administration confirms that such rate is, pursuant to any double-taxation treaty, a specified lesser rate in relation to interest payments under this Agreement in which case such lesser rate shall be applied; and
(iii) To the extent that interest payable under a Loan Document becomes subject to Swiss Withholding Tax, the Loan Parties and the Lenders shall promptly co-operate in completing any procedural formalities (including submitting forms and documents required by the appropriate tax authority) to the extent possible and necessary (a) to make interest payments without them being subject to Swiss Withholding Tax, or (b) to being subject to Swiss Withholding Tax at a rate reduced under applicable double taxation treaties, or (c) for the Lenders to obtain a full or partial refund of Swiss Withholding Tax under applicable double taxation treaties. For the avoidance of doubt, a Lender who is treated as not being a Swiss Qualifying Bank pursuant to Section 2.17(i) shall not be under any obligation to change its status into a Swiss Qualifying Bank.
SECTION 2.14 Alternate Rate of Interest; Illegality.
(a) Subject to the other clauses of this Section 2.14, if, at any applicable time, (i) the Administrative Agent determines in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Term SOFR Rate, as applicable, pursuant to the definitions thereof, (ii) the basis for determining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Term SOFR Rate, as applicable, ceases to be reported by the sources designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time and the Administrative Agent shall have reasonably determined that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, other adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Term SOFR Rate, as applicable, or (iii) the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with
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any request for a Loan that the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Term SOFR Rate, as applicable, does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans, and the Required Lenders have provided notice of such determination to the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and each Lender. Upon notice thereof (x) subject to Section 2.13(h), the interest rate applicable to the Revolving Loans and other Obligations denominated in Dollars shall be the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate determined and effective immediately, and (y) subject to Section 2.14(d), such substituted rate shall thereafter be determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof.
(b) Each of the Term SOFR Rate may be adjusted by the Administrative Agent with respect to any Lender on a prospective basis to take into account any additional or increased costs to such Lender of maintaining or obtaining any eurodollar deposits or increased costs (other than Taxes which shall be governed by Section 2.17), in each case, due to changes in applicable law, including any Changes in Law and changes in the reserve requirements imposed by the Board of Governors (including pursuant to regulations issued from time to time by the Federal Reserve Board for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, special, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D)), which additional or increased costs would increase the cost of funding or maintaining loans bearing interest at the Term SOFR Rate. In any such event, the affected Lender shall give Borrowers and Administrative Agent notice of such a determination and adjustment and Administrative Agent promptly shall transmit the notice to each other Lender and, upon its receipt of the notice from the affected Lender, Borrowers may, by notice to such affected Lender (i) require such Lender to furnish to Borrowers a statement setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for adjusting such Term SOFR Rate, and the method for determining the amount of such adjustment, or (ii) repay the Loans of such Lender with respect to which such adjustment is made.
(c) If there has been at any time an interest rate substituted for the Term SOFR Rate in accordance with this Section 2.14 and if in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, the circumstances causing such substitution have ceased, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower Representative in writing of such cessation, and thereafter the Term SOFR Rate shall be determined as originally defined hereby.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative may amend this Agreement to replace the then-current Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event will become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has posted such proposed amendment to all affected Lenders and the Borrower Representative 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. No replacement of a Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section 2.14(b) will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(f) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower Representative and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, and (iv) the commencement or conclusion 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 2.14, including any determination with respect to a 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 any 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 Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.14.
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(g) Upon the Borrower Representative’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower Representative may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, and, failing that, either (x) the Borrower Representative will be deemed to have converted any request for (1) a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to an ABR Borrowing or (y) any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in an Agreed Currency shall be ineffective.
(h) If any Lender determines that any Requirement of Law has made it unlawful, or if any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable lending office to make, maintain, fund or continue any Term Benchmark Borrowing, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrowers through the Administrative Agent, any obligations of such Lender to make, maintain, fund or continue Term Benchmark Loans will be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers will upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), either prepay all applicable Term Benchmark Borrowings of such Lender or be deemed to have converted all Term Benchmark Borrowings of such Lender to ABR Borrowings (in the case of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate Borrowings), respectively, on the date specified in such Lender’s notice. Upon any such conversion or prepayment, the Borrowers will also pay accrued interest on the amount so converted or prepaid.
SECTION 2.15 Increased Costs.
(a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the applicable Term Benchmark) or any Issuing Bank; or
(ii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London, Canadian or other applicable offshore interbank market for the applicable Agreed Currency any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein,
(iii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than any (A) Indemnified Taxes or (B) Excluded Taxes) on or with respect to its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or other Recipient of making or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender or other Recipient 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 other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, from time to time upon request of such Lender or other Recipient, the applicable Borrower(s) will pay to such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs or expenses incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) If any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has had or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’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 or Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then, from time to time upon request of such Lender or such Issuing Bank, the applicable Borrower(s) will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
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(c) A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section delivered to the Borrower Representative shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The applicable Borrower(s) shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or expenses incurred or reductions suffered more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower Representative of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or expenses or reductions and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or expenses or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
(e) Notwithstanding the above, a Lender will not be entitled to demand compensation for any increased cost or reduction set forth in this Section 2.15 at any time if it is not the general practice and policy of such Lender to demand such compensation from similarly situated borrowers in similar circumstances under agreements containing provisions permitting such compensation to be claimed at such time.
SECTION 2.16 Compensation for Losses. With respect to any Loans, in the event of the failure to borrow or prepay any Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(h) and is revoked in accordance therewith), then the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense (excluding any loss of margin) attributable to such event, including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds (but not loss of profits) obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. A certificate of any Lender delivered to the Borrower Representative and setting forth and explaining in reasonable detail any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The applicable Borrower(s) shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.17 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by any applicable withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Lender (or, in the case of payments made to the Administrative Agent for its own account, the Administrative Agent) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent, timely reimburse it (or, as applicable, the relevant Lenders) for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(c) Evidence of Payment. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Loan 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.
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(d) Indemnification by the Loan Parties. Without duplication of any amounts actually paid pursuant to Section 2.17(a), the applicable Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within 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 2.17) payable or paid by such Recipient 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 delivered to the Borrower Representative 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 absent manifest error.
(e) Status of Lenders.
(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) or (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(A) any Lender to a U.S. Borrower shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent), an executed copy of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding;
(B) any Foreign Lender to a U.S. Borrower shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient;
(1) an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party;
(2) an executed copy of IRS Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms);
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10-percent shareholder” of any U.S. Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and that no payments in connection with any Loan Document are effectively connected with the Foreign Lender’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms); or
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(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Foreign Lender is a partnership or a participating Lender), an executed copy of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms), accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender to a U.S. Borrower shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D) if a payment made by a Lender to a U.S. Borrower under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA and to determine, if any, the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Effective Date.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered (including any specific documentation required in this Section 2.17(e)) expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall deliver promptly to the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) or promptly notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal ineligibility to do so.
Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Loan Parties and to any other successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided by such Lender pursuant to this Section 2.17(e).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.17(e), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any documentation that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any Recipient determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this Section 2.17(f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.17(f), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 2.17(f) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This Section 2.17(f) shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.
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(g) Defined Terms. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and, for purposes of this Section 2.17(e)(ii)(C) and (ii)(D), the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.
(h) VAT.
(i) All amounts set out or expressed in a Loan Document to be payable by any Loan Party to any Lender Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for a supply or supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to Section 2.17(h)(ii), if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Lender Party to any Loan Party under a Loan Document, that Loan Party shall pay to the Lender Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT (and the relevant Lender Party shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such Loan Party).
(ii) Where a Loan Document requires any Loan Party to reimburse or indemnify a Lender Party for any cost or expense, that Loan Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Lender Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Lender Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.
(iii) If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Lender Party (the “Supplier”) to any other Lender Party (the “Recipient”) under a Loan Document, and any party other than the Recipient (the “Relevant Party”) is required by the terms of any Loan Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for that supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse or indemnify the Recipient in respect of that consideration):
(A) (where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must also pay to the Supplier (at the same time as paying that amount) an additional amount equal to the amount of the VAT and the Recipient must (where this paragraph (A) applies) promptly pay to the Relevant Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment the Recipient receives from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and
(B) (where the Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must promptly, following demand from the Recipient, pay to the Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply save to the extent that such Recipient reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.
(iv) Any reference in this Section 2.17(h) to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such time (the term “representative member” to have the same meaning as in the United Kingdom’s Value Added Tax Act 1994 or applicable legislation in other jurisdictions having a similar effect).
(i) Lender Confirmation. Each Lender shall specify on the date of this Agreement whether it is or is not a Swiss Qualifying Bank (or if unknown, shall indicate its status is unknown, in which case it shall be treated by the Swiss Borrower (and each Swiss Subsidiary) as if it were not a Swiss Qualifying Bank) and confirm that it counts as a single Lender for purposes of the Swiss Non-Bank Rules. A Swiss Borrower (and each Swiss Subsidiary) shall have the right to refuse an initial Lender if this would lead to a breach of the Swiss Ten Non-Bank Rule. Each Lender that becomes a party to this Agreement after the date of this Agreement shall specify whether it is or is not a Swiss Qualifying Bank and confirm that it counts as a single Lender for purposes of the Swiss Non-Bank Rules. If a Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with this Section 2.17(i), then that Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement (including with respect to the Swiss Borrower (and each Swiss Subsidiary)) as if it is not a Swiss Qualifying Bank until such time as it notifies the Administrative Agent of its status (and the Administrative Agent,
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upon receipt of such notification, shall inform each Swiss Borrower of its status). For the avoidance of doubt, (A) the documentation that a Lender executes on becoming a party to this Agreement shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this Section 2.17(i) and (B) none of the Loan Documents shall be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this Section 2.17(i) or to indicate its status is unknown.
(j) FATCA Information.
(i) Subject to paragraph (iii) below, each party shall, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another party: (x) confirm to that other party whether it is: (A) a FATCA Exempt Party; or (B) not a FATCA Exempt Party; (y) supply to that other party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other party’s compliance with FATCA; and (z) supply to that other party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other party’s compliance with any other law, regulation, or ex-change of information regime.
(ii) If a party confirms to another party pursuant to paragraph (i)(x) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that party shall notify that other party reasonably promptly.
(iii) Paragraph (i) above shall not oblige any Lender Party to do anything, and paragraph (i)(z) above shall not oblige any other Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of: (x) any law or regulation; (y) any fiduciary duty; or (z) any duty of confidentiality.
(iv) If a party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with paragraph (i)(x) or (i)(y) above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where paragraph (iii) above applies), then such party shall be treated (and payments accordingly) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.
SECTION 2.18 Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Setoffs.
(a) The Borrowers shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by them hereunder or under any other Loan Document on or prior to the time expressly required hereunder or under such other Loan Document for such payment or, if no such time is expressly required, on or prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due or the date fixed or any prepayment hereunder, in immediately available funds, without any defense, setoff, recoupment or counterclaim. All payments (i) in respect of any Loan (and interest thereon) shall be made in the same currency in which such Loan was made and (ii) in respect of all fees, in respect of reimbursement of LC Disbursements and in respect of any other amounts payable hereunder or under other Loan Documents shall be paid in Dollars. All such payments in respect of Revolving Loans and LC Exposure shall be made and allocated, pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amounts of such Loans and the LC Exposure of each Lender. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Agent’s Account, except that payments required to be made directly to an Issuing Bank shall be so made and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto and payments pursuant to other Loan Documents shall be made to the Persons specified therein. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payment received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. Unless otherwise provided for herein, if any payment hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.
(b) Any payments and any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (x) not constituting (A) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower Representative), (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11) or (C) amounts to be applied from a Concentration Account or Collection Account during any Dominion Period (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.10(b)) or (y) after an Event of
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Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank from the Borrowers; second, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrowers; third, to pay interest due in respect of the Protective Advances and Overadvances; fourth, to pay the principal of the Protective Advances and Overadvances; fifth, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans (other than the Protective Advances and Overadvances) ratably; sixth, to prepay principal on the Loans (other than the Protective Advances and Overadvances) and unreimbursed LC Disbursements ratably; seventh, to deposit in the LC Collateral Account cash collateral (in accordance with 2.06(j)); eighth, to payment of any amounts owing in respect of Secured Banking Services; ninth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligations due to any Lender Party by the Borrowers; and tenth, any excess to be returned to Borrower Representative.
(c) [Reserved].
(d) 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 its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements, Protective Advances or Overadvances resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, Protective Advances or Overadvances and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact and shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, Protective Advances and Overadvances of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the amount of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amounts of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, Protective Advances and Overadvances; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, as in effect from time to time) or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements, Protective Advances or Overadvances to any Person that is an Eligible Assignee (as such term is defined from time to time). Each Borrower 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 Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation. For purposes of subclause (b)(i) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes”, a Lender that acquires a participation pursuant to this Section 2.18(d) shall be treated as having acquired such participation on the earlier date(s) on which such Lender acquired the applicable interest(s) in the Commitment(s) and/or Loan(s) to which such participation relates.
(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received, prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of any of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks pursuant to the terms hereof or any other Loan Document (including any date that is fixed for prepayment by notice from the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.11(h)), notice from the Borrower Representative that the applicable Borrower(s) will not make such payment or prepayment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the applicable Borrower(s) have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the applicable Lenders or Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the applicable Borrower(s) have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank 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 Defaulting Lender Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(f) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it hereunder to or for the account of the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations in respect of such payment until all such unsatisfied obligations have been discharged and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and apply any such amounts to, any future payment obligations of such Lender hereunder to or for the account of the Administrative Agent.
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SECTION 2.19 Mitigation Obligations: Replacement of Lenders.
(a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if any Loan Party is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or to any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign and delegate its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment and delegation (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender or Issuing Bank to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or Issuing Bank. The applicable Borrower(s) hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment and delegation.
(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if any Loan Party is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower Representative may, at the sole expense and effort of the applicable Borrower(s), upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which Eligible Assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment and delegation); provided that (i) the Borrower Representative shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank, which consents shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, Protective Advances and Overadvances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the applicable Borrower(s) (in the case of all other amounts), (iii) in the case of any such assignment and delegation resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (iv) such assignment and delegation does not conflict with applicable law. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the applicable Borrower(s) to require such assignment and delegation have ceased to apply. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
SECTION 2.20 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) commitment fees shall cease to accrue on the unused portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);
(b) the Commitment and Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or all affected Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided that when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment shall be disregarded in any of such calculations to the extent that disregarding the applicable Commitments would
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not cause the Credit Exposure of any Lender under any Loan to exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment under such Loan and any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender differently than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender;
(c) if any LC Exposure, Protective Advance Exposure or Overadvance Exposure exists under which such Lender has a Commitment at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then:
(i) such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (other than any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements with respect to which such Defaulting Lender shall have funded its participation as contemplated by Section 2.06(d)), Protective Advance Exposure (other than any portion thereof with respect to which such Defaulting Lender shall have funded its participation as contemplated by Section 2.04(b)) and Overadvance Exposure (other than any portion thereof with respect to which such Defaulting Lender shall have funded its participation as contemplated by Section 2.05(c)) shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages, but only to the extent the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure, Protective Advance Exposure and Overadvance Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments;
(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the applicable Borrower(s) shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender, (A) first, prepay the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Overadvance Exposure that has not been so reallocated, (B) second, prepay the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Protective Advance Exposure that has not been so reallocated, and (C) third, cash collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure that has not been so reallocated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;
(iii) if any Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the applicable Borrower(s) shall not be required to pay any letter of credit participation fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s cash collateralized LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;
(iv) if any portion of the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated pursuant to clause (c)(i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted to give effect to such reallocation; or
(v) if any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to clause (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the applicable Issuing Bank or any Lender hereunder, all letter of credit participation fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Banks (and allocated among them ratably based on the amount of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued by each Issuing Bank) until such LC Exposure is cash collateralized and/or reallocated; and
In the event and on the date that each of the Administrative Agent, the Company, each of the Issuing Banks agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the LC Exposure, Protective Advance Exposure and Overadvance Exposure of the other 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 Revolving Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold Revolving Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
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If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, such Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless such Issuing Bank shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to such Issuing Bank to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
SECTION 2.21 Returned Payments. If after receipt of any payment which is applied to the payment of all or any part of the Obligations, any Lender Party is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment or proceeds to any Person because such payment or application of proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside or determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds, or for any other reason, then the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued and this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Lender. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in reliance upon such payment or application of proceeds. The provisions of this Section 2.21 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 2.22 Joint and Several Liability of Borrowers.
(a) Each Borrower, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with the other Borrowers, with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Obligations (including any Obligations arising under this Section), it being the intention of the parties hereto that all the Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each Borrower without preferences or distinction among them.
(b) If and to the extent that a Borrower shall fail to make any payment with respect to any of the Obligations as and when due or to perform any of the Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event the other Borrowers will make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligation.
(c) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Borrower hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any other Borrower or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any other Borrower, other than the payment in full in cash of the Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Borrower irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any other Borrower or any other Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Borrower confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with any other Borrower or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any other Borrower, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Borrower to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, except to the extent the Obligations have been fully and paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Borrower waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Borrower against any other Borrower or any security.
(d) No Borrower will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification that it has against any other Borrower, or any Collateral, until the Loan Parties have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders and the other Lender Parties.
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ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
The Company represents and warrants, and each other Loan Party severally represents and warrants as to itself, to the Lenders as follows:
SECTION 3.01 Organization; Powers. The Company and each Restricted Subsidiary is duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and (to the extent the concept is applicable in such jurisdiction and, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary other than any Borrower, except where the failure to be so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect) in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.
SECTION 3.02 Authorization; Enforceability; Benefit to Loan Parties. The Transactions, insofar as they are to be carried out by each Loan Party, are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational and, if required, shareholder or other equity holder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party and constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable Insolvency Laws or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
SECTION 3.03 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with (other than filings required to be made with SEC), or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are (or will so be) in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created under the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate any applicable law, including any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (d) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture or agreement (including any Material Indebtedness or other material instrument binding upon the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of their assets), or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (e) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, except Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents; in the case of each of the clauses above, except for an approval, violation or creation, as applicable, which would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The Company has heretofore furnished to the Lenders (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets and related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2022, December 30, 2023, and December 28, 2024, each audited by and accompanied by the unqualified opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm, and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the Fiscal Quarter ended April 5, 2025. Such financial statements (x) present fairly, in all material respects, or on a consolidated basis, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above and (y) comply in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.
(b) The initial Cash Flow Forecast, which was furnished to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Effective Date, and each subsequent Cash Flow Forecast delivered in accordance with Section 5.29, has been (or when delivered, will be) prepared by the Company in good faith, with due care and based upon assumptions the Company believed to be reasonable assumptions on the date of delivery of the then applicable Cash Flow Forecast. To the knowledge of the Company, as of the Effective Date, no facts exist that, individually or in the aggregate, would result in any material change to the Cash Flow Forecast for the period covered thereby.
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(c) Since December 28, 2024, there has been no event, development or circumstance that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.05 Properties.
(a) The Company and each Restricted Subsidiary has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all fee owned real property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes and Permitted Liens, or as otherwise could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The Company and each Restricted Subsidiary owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, service marks, tradenames, trade dress, copyrights, patents, industrial designs and other Intellectual Property material to its business, and the conduct of their respective businesses, including the use thereof, by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, does not infringe or violate upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06 Litigation and Environmental Matters.
(a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve any of the Loan Documents or the Transactions.
(b) Except for matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary (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 written notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability. The representations and warranties made pursuant to this Section 3.06(b) are the exclusive representations and warranties contained in this Agreement regarding (1) compliance with or liability under Environmental Laws, or (2) Hazardous Materials.
SECTION 3.07 Compliance with Laws and Agreements.
(a) the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with all laws, including all orders of Governmental Authorities, applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (it being agreed that this Section does not apply to any law which is specifically addressed in Section 3.06(b), 3.07(b), 3.08, 3.09, 3.10 or 3.14). No Default has occurred and is continuing.
(b) the Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Company, its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, each in all material respects and are not knowingly engaged in any activity that would reasonably be expected to result in any Loan Party or any Subsidiary being designated as a Sanctioned Person. None of (a) the Company, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Company, any agent of the Company or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned
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Person. No Borrowing, Letter of Credit use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions. The foregoing representations in this Section 3.07(b) will not apply to any Canadian Loan Party or party hereto to which Council Regulation (EC) 2271/96 (the “Blocking Regulation”) applies, if and to the extent that such representations are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of, (i) any applicable Canadian law, rule or regulation or any provision of the Blocking Regulation (or any law or regulation implementing the Blocking Regulation in any member state of the European Union) or (ii) any similar blocking or anti-boycott law in the United Kingdom, and no representation under this Section shall be made by any German Loan Party to the extent it would violate section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Ordinance (Außenwirtschaftsverordnung), any provision of Council Regulation (EC) 2271/96 of 22 November 1996 or any similar applicable anti-boycott law or regulation binding on that German Loan Party.
SECTION 3.08 Investment Company Status, etc. No Loan Party is (a) an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940 (or, in respect of a UK Loan Party, carries on any business in the United Kingdom which requires it to be authorized by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority or the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or (b) a “holding company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or (c) an EEA Financial Institution.
SECTION 3.09 Taxes. The Company and each Subsidiary have filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it (including in its capacity as withholding agent), except (a) any Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which the Company or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There is no current or proposed tax assessment, deficiency or other claim against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except, in each case, with respect to a branch operated by Fossil Germany in Dubai, each European Loan Party and each of their respective subsidiaries is resident for Tax purposes only in the jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated as at the date of this Agreement and none of the European Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries has a branch, agency or permanent establishment in any other jurisdiction for Tax purposes.
SECTION 3.10 ERISA; Labor Matters; Canadian Pension Plans and Canadian Benefit Plans.
(a) Except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA and (iii) the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Accounting Standards Codification No. 715) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair value of the assets of such Plan.
(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there are no strikes, lockouts, slowdowns or any other labor disputes against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, (ii) the hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, the Employee Standards Act (Ontario) or any other applicable federal, state, provincial, territorial, local or foreign law dealing with such matters and (iii) all payments due from the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or for which any claim may be made against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent required by GAAP.
(c) No Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is or has at any time been (i) an employer (for the purposes of Sections 38 to 51 of the United Kingdom’s Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the United Kingdom’s Pensions Schemes Act 1993) or (ii) “connected” with or an “associate” (as those terms are used in Sections 38 and 43 of the United Kingdom’s Pensions Act 2004) of such an employer.
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(d) All employer and employee contributions (including insurance premiums) required from any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates by applicable law or by the terms of any Foreign Pension Plan (including any policy held thereunder) have been made, or, if applicable, accrued in accordance with normal accounting practices.
(e) The present value of the aggregate accumulated benefit obligations of all Foreign Pension Plans (based on those assumptions used to fund such Foreign Pension Plans) with respect to all current and former participants did not, as of the last annual valuation date applicable thereto, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such Foreign Pension Plans.
(f) Each Foreign Pension Plan that is required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with the applicable regulatory authorities and is in compliance with (i) all material provisions of applicable law and regulations applicable to such Foreign Pension Plan and (ii) the terms of such Foreign Pension Plan.
(g) Schedule 3.10 lists all Canadian Pension Plans currently maintained or contributed to by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as of the date hereof. No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof, maintains, sponsors, administers, contributes to, participates in or has any liability in respect of any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan. The Canadian Pension Plans are duly registered under the ITA and all other applicable laws which require registration. Each Loan Party and each of their Subsidiaries has complied with and performed all of its obligations under and in respect of the Canadian Pension Plans under the terms thereof, any funding agreements and all applicable laws (including any fiduciary, funding, investment and administration obligations, except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect). All employer and employee payments, contributions or premiums to be remitted, paid to or in respect of each Canadian Pension Plan have been paid in a timely fashion in accordance with the terms thereof, any funding agreement and all applicable laws, except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There have been no improper withdrawals or applications of the assets of the Canadian Pension Plans which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Loan Parties, no facts or circumstances have occurred or existed that could result, or be reasonably anticipated to result, in the declaration of a termination of any Canadian Pension Plan by any Governmental Authority under applicable laws which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Canadian Pension Plan is and has been funded and otherwise operated in accordance with applicable law, and except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, there is no solvency or other deficiency or any unfunded liability with respect to any Canadian Pension Plan.
SECTION 3.11 Disclosure.
(a) The Company has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Information Materials nor any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), taken together as a whole, 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 misleading; provided that, with respect to forecasts and projected financial information, the Loan Parties represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by them to be reasonable at the time made and at the time so furnished and, if furnished prior to the Effective Date, as of the Effective Date (it being understood that such forecasts and projections are not to be viewed as fact and may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material).
(b) As of the Effective Date, to the best knowledge of the Company, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.
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SECTION 3.12 Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures. Schedule 3.12 sets forth, as of the Effective Date, the name, type of organization and jurisdiction of organization of, and the percentage of each class of Equity Interests owned by the Company or any Subsidiary in, (a) each Subsidiary and (b) each joint venture in which the Company or any Subsidiary owns any Equity Interests, and identifies each Designated Subsidiary. All the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary owned by any Loan Party have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Equity Interests) duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable (except as such rights may arise under mandatory provisions of applicable statutory law that may not be waived and not as a result of any rights contained in organizational documents, and subject to capital calls for non-corporations). Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12, as of the Effective Date there is no existing option, warrant, call, right, commitment or other agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party requiring, and there are no Equity Interests in any Subsidiary outstanding that upon exercise, conversion or exchange would require, the issuance by any Subsidiary of any additional Equity Interests or other securities exercisable for, convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase any Equity Interests in any Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.13 Insurance. Schedule 3.13 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date. As of the Effective Date, all premiums due and payable in respect of such insurance have been paid. The Company believes that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries is adequate.
SECTION 3.14 Margin Regulations. No Loan Party is engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit hereunder will be used to buy or carry any Margin Stock.
SECTION 3.15 Solvency. As of the Effective Date after giving effect to the Transactions and on as of the date of each borrowing, continuation, conversion or extension date hereunder and after giving effect thereto, (i) the fair value of the assets of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, at a fair valuation (determined on the basis of such property being liquidated with reasonable promptness in an arm’s-length transaction), will exceed their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries will be able to pay their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise (it being understood and agreed that for purposes of this Section, contingent liabilities mean the maximum amount of liability that could reasonably be likely to result from pending litigation, asserted claims and assessments, guaranties, indemnification obligations, adjustment of purchase price or other post-closing payment adjustments (including earn-outs and other similar arrangements) and uninsured risks of the Company and its Subsidiaries), as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; (iv) the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Effective Date; (v) a UK Loan Party will not (A) (1) be unable to or have admitted its inability to pay its debts as they fall due, (2) be deemed to or declare that it is unable to pay its debts under applicable law, (3) have suspended or threatened to suspend making payments on any of its debts or (4) by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, have commenced negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness; or (B) have declared, or have had declared a moratorium, in respect of any Indebtedness; (vi) no Germany Insolvency Event will have occurred; (vii) no Canadian Loan Party is an “insolvent person” within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada); and (viii) no Swiss Insolvency Event will have occurred.
SECTION 3.16 Collateral Matters. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral granted by (a) the U.S. Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Parties), securing the Secured Obligations, (b) the Canadian Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the relevant Lender Parties), securing the Secured Obligations, (c) [reserved], (d) [reserved], (e) the German Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the relevant Lender Parties), securing the Secured Obligations, (f) the Swiss Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the relevant Lender Parties), securing the Secured Obligations and (g) the UK Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the relevant Lender Parties), securing the Secured Obligations, and (i) when the Collateral constituting certificated securities (as defined in the UCC or the PPSA, as applicable) or instruments (as defined in the UCC or the PPSA, as applicable) are delivered to the Administrative Agent, together
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with instruments of transfer duly endorsed in blank, the security interest created under the Loan Documents will constitute perfected and continuing Liens on such Collateral, (ii) upon the filing of a UCC financing statement or the filing of a PPSA financing statement (or equivalent) or equivalent under each applicable jurisdiction, the recording an appropriate document with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the security interest created under the Loan Documents will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing or recording and (iii) when the Collateral constituting deposit accounts or securities account are made subject to Control Agreement the security interest created under the Loan Documents will constitute a fully perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the pledgors thereunder in such Collateral, in each case, securing the applicable Secured Obligations, enforceable against the applicable Loan Party and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except in the case of (x) Permitted Liens, to the extent any such Liens would have priority over the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to any applicable law or agreement and (y) Liens perfected only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title) or control to the extent the Administrative Agent has not obtained or does not maintain possession or control of such Collateral.
SECTION 3.17 Use of Proceeds. The Borrowers will use the proceeds of the Loans and will request the issuance of Letters of Credit only for purposes set forth in Section 5.11.
SECTION 3.18 Credit Card Agreements. Schedule 3.18 (as updated from time to time as permitted by Section 5.16) sets forth a list describing all Credit Card Agreements to which any U.S. Loan Party is a party. All such Credit Card Agreements are in full force and effect, currently binding upon each U.S. Loan Party that is a party thereto and, to the knowledge of the U.S. Loan Parties, binding upon other parties thereto in accordance with their terms. The U.S. Loan Parties are in compliance in all material respects with each such Credit Card Agreement.
SECTION 3.19 Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations), and neither the execution, delivery or performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
SECTION 3.20 Borrowing Base Certificate. At the time of delivery of each Borrowing Base Certificate, assuming that any eligibility criterion that requires the approval or satisfaction of the Administrative Agent has been approved by or is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, each Account reflected therein as eligible for inclusion in each Borrowing Base is an Eligible Account, each Credit Card Account Receivable reflected therein as eligible for inclusion in each Borrowing Base is an Eligible Credit Card Account Receivable, the Inventory reflected therein as eligible for inclusion in each Borrowing Base constitutes Eligible Finished Goods Inventory, and the Trademark Assets reflected therein as eligible for inclusion in each Borrowing Base constitutes Eligible Intellectual Property.
SECTION 3.21 Material Contracts. Each Material Contract in effect as of the Effective Date is, and after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents will be, in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof (except any such Material Contract that has expired by its terms). Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is in breach of or in default under any Material Contract where such breach or default, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.22 Exchange Documents. Each Exchange Document in effect as of the Effective Date is in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof (except any such Exchange Document that has expired by its terms). Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is in breach of or in default under any material provision of any Exchange Document.
SECTION 3.23 Centre of Main Interests and Establishments.
(a) For the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings (recast) (the “Regulation”), (i) each of the German Loan Parties’ and Dutch Loan Parties’ centre of main interests (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Regulation) is situated in its jurisdiction of incorporation and (ii) none of the German Loan Parties or Dutch Loan Parties have an “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Regulation) in any other jurisdiction (or any equivalent provision(s) of any applicable successor to the Regulation which may apply from time to time to any of the Loan Parties).
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(b) For the purposes of the Retained Regulation (i) each of the UK Loan Parties’ centre of main interests (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Retained Regulation) is situated in its jurisdiction of incorporation and (ii) none of the UK Loan Parties have an “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Regulation) in any other jurisdiction (or any equivalent provision(s) of any applicable successor to the Retained Regulation or the Regulation, respectively, which may apply from time to time to any of the Loan Parties).
SECTION 3.24 Compliance with the Swiss Non-Bank Rules. Each Swiss Borrower (and each Swiss Subsidiary) is in full compliance with the Swiss Non-Bank Rules and, for the purposes of this Section 3.24, the Swiss Borrowers (and each Swiss Subsidiary) shall assume that the aggregate number of Lenders that are Swiss Non-Qualifying Banks is ten. A Swiss Borrower shall not be in breach of this representation if Swiss Withholding Tax is triggered as a result of a Lender’s failure to comply with Sections 9.04(b)(iii), 9.04(c) or resulting from an incorrect Lender status confirmation under Section 2.17(i) or having lost the status as Swiss Qualifying Bank or as a result of the revocation with Swiss Tax Ruling.
SECTION 3.25 Fiscal Unity. No Dutch Loan Party is part of a fiscal unity (fiscale eenheid) for Dutch corporate income tax or VAT purposes except for any such fiscal unity consisting of Dutch Loan Parties only.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01 Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02) to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent:
(a) Credit Agreement. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include PDF or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.
(b) Fee Letters. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party thereto either (i) counterparts of the Agent Fee Letter and the Fee Letter signed on behalf of such party or (ii) evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include PDF or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of the Agent Fee Letter or the Fee Letter) that such party has signed a counterpart of the Agent Fee Letter or the Fee Letter, as applicable.
(c) Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, New York, Delaware and Texas counsel for the Loan Parties, (ii) Stikeman Elliott LLP, Canadian counsel for the Loan Parties, with respect to the laws of Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia, (iii) Stewart McKelvey LLP, Canadian counsel for the Loan Parties with respect to the laws of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and (iv) Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, English counsel for the Administrative Agent, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(d) Organization and Good Standing Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing (or equivalent) of each Loan Party as of a recent date prior to or as of the Effective Date, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. For each German Loan Party organized as a limited liability company, it shall include its articles of association, the shareholder list, an excerpt from the commercial register, and any other organizational agreement applicable to it. For each UK Loan Party, such certificate shall confirm (i) that attached
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copies of such Loan Party’s certificate of incorporation (and any certificate on change of name), its memorandum (if any) and articles of association are true and complete, and in full force and effect, without amendment; (ii) that an attached copy of resolutions of both its board of directors and its members authorizing execution and delivery of the Loan Documents is true and complete, and that such resolutions are in full force and effect, were duly adopted, have not been amended, modified or revoked or superseded; (iii) the title, name and signature of each person authorized to sign the Loan Documents and (iv) for each UK Loan Party whose shares are the subject of a UK Security Agreement, either that no “warning notice” or “restrictions notice” (in each case as defined in Schedule 1B of the Companies Act 2006 (UK)) has been issued in respect of its shares, together with a copy of the “PSC register” (within the meaning of section 790C(10) of the Companies Act 2006 (UK)), which is certified by a director to be correct, complete and not amended or superseded at the date of that certificate, or a certificate certifying that such UK Loan Party is not required to comply with Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006 (UK).
(e) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct (i) in the case of representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, in all respects and (ii) otherwise, in all material respects, in each case on and as of the Effective Date, except in the case of any such representation and warranty that expressly relates to a prior date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct on and as of such prior date.
(f) Officer’s Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (e), (k), (o) and (t) of this Section.
(g) Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Company, as to the solvency of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis after giving effect to the Transactions, in the form of Exhibit J.
(h) Collateral and Guarantee Requirement. Other than as set forth on Schedule 5.25, the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been satisfied. The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by an executive officer or a Financial Officer of the Company, together with all attachments contemplated thereby, including the results of a search of the UCC filings and PPSA financing statements and similar filings under applicable foreign laws, made with respect to the Loan Parties in the jurisdictions contemplated by the Perfection Certificate and copies of the financing statements (or similar documents) disclosed by such search and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Liens indicated by such financing statements (or similar documents) are Permitted Liens or have been, or substantially contemporaneously with the initial funding of Loans on the Effective Date will be, released.
(i) [Reserved].
(j) Insurance Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lender Parties, has been named as additional insured and loss payee under the Company’s master global property and liability insurance policies.
(k) No Default. As of the Effective Date, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(l) Refinancing. The Administrative Agent shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Refinancing has been completed or will be completed substantially concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement.
(m) Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, payment or reimbursement of all fees and expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) required to be paid or reimbursed by any Loan Party.
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(n) Know Your Customer Information. (i) The Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA Patriot Act, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date to the extent such information was requested at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, (ii) to the extent any Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Borrowers at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to each Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification and (iii) the Administrative Agent shall have received background checks on certain principals and managers of the Company and other related parties, the results of which shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the conditions set forth in this clauses (i) and (ii) shall be deemed to be satisfied with respect to such Lender.
(o) No Material Adverse Effect. Since December 28, 2024, there shall not have been or occurred any Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Borrowing Base Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate which calculates the Borrowing Base as of June 30, 2025, which such Borrowing Base Certificate shall demonstrate at least $30,000,000 of Availability, after giving pro forma effect to the Transactions contemplated to occur on the Effective Date.
(q) Financial Statements. The Lenders shall have received unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company for the Fiscal Month ended June 30, 2025, and such financial statements shall not, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, reflect any material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of the Company, as reflected in the financial statements or projections contained in the Information Materials.
(r) Field Exam; Appraisals. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) an updated field examination from an examiner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) Inventory and Intellectual Property appraisals from appraisers satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the results of which updated field examination and appraisals shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(s) Sourcing Rights Agreement. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party thereto either (i) counterparts of the Sourcing Rights Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include PDF or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of the Sourcing Rights Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of the Sourcing Rights Agreement.
(t) Restructuring Transactions. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a fully executed copy of the Exchange TSA, together with all attachments thereto, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which agreement shall be in full force and effect with the support of Consenting Noteholders (as defined therein) comprising at least 58% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2026 Notes, and no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing thereunder, including a commitment by the Consenting Noteholders to backstop 100% of the new money 2029 1L Notes in an aggregate amount of $32.5 million, and (ii) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Specified UK SchemeCo has no assets or Subsidiaries.
(u) Cash Flow Forecast. The Administrative Agent shall have received the initial Cash Flow Forecast.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
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SECTION 4.02 Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to receipt of the request therefor in accordance herewith and to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable.
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(c) After giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit, the Borrowers shall be in compliance with the Revolving Exposure Limitations.
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
Notwithstanding the failure to satisfy the conditions precedent set forth in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, continue to make Loans and an Issuing Bank may, but shall have no obligation to, issue or cause to be issued any Letter of Credit for the ratable account and risk of Lenders from time to time if the Administrative Agent believes that making such Loans or issuing or causing to be issued any such Letter of Credit is in the best interests of the Lenders.
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable under any Loan Document (other than Banking Services Obligations and contingent or indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made) have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Loan Parties severally covenant and agree with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01 Financial Statements: Borrowing Base and Other Information. The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent, for distribution to each Lender:
(a) within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year (including a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of such financial statements), all audited by and accompanied by the opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification, exception or emphasis and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit, other than solely with respect to, or resulting solely from, an upcoming maturity date under this Agreement occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such Fiscal Year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;
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(b) (i) within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year of the Company (commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2025), its unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations for such Fiscal Quarter and the then elapsed portion of the Fiscal Year and the related unaudited consolidated statement of cash flows for the then elapsed portion of the Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous Fiscal Year (including a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of such financial statements), all certified by a Financial Officer of the Company as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows on a consolidated basis of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such Fiscal Quarter and such portion of the Fiscal Year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, and (ii) within 30 days after the end of each of the first two Fiscal Months of each Fiscal Quarter of the Company (commencing with the Fiscal Month ended July 31, 2025), its unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Month, the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations for such Fiscal Month and the then elapsed portion of the Fiscal Year and the related unaudited consolidated statement of cash flows for the then elapsed portion of the Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous Fiscal Year (including a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of such financial statements), all certified by a Financial Officer of the Company as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows on a consolidated basis of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such Fiscal Month and such portion of the Fiscal Year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
(c) concurrently with each delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Financial Officer of the Company (i) certifying, in the case of the financial statements delivered under clause (b) that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, (ii) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (iii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of the Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of the applicable Fiscal Year, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Month, (iv) [reserved], (v) if any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate (and, in the event of any such change referred to in Section 1.05(b), with respect to the amounts included in the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the period of twelve Fiscal Months of the Company then most recently ended, providing a reasonably detailed reconciliation of such amounts as they are reflected in the financial statements accompanying such certificate and as they would be reflected therein without giving effect to such change), (vi) certifying that all notices required to be provided under Sections 5.02 and 5.04 have been provided and (vii) if there are any Unrestricted Subsidiaries setting forth the financial information in detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for the applicable period for such Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(d) promptly upon request of the Administrative Agent (which request shall be made no more than once per calendar year), a true and complete customer list for each U.S. Loan Party, Canadian Loan Party and European Borrower, which list shall state the customer’s name, mailing address and phone number and shall be certified as true and correct by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative;
(e) as soon as available but in any event within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company, a copy of the plan and forecast (including projected Availability and a projected consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, statement of operations and statement of cash flow) of the Company of the upcoming Fiscal Year, presented on a month-by-month basis (in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent);
(f) as soon as available but in any event within 20 days after each Borrowing Base Reporting Date (or, during any Weekly Reporting Period, on the third Business Day of each week), a Borrowing Base Certificate setting forth a computation of the Borrowing Base as of such Borrowing Base Reporting Date, together with supporting information and any additional reports with respect to the Borrowing Base that the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;
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(g) concurrently with any delivery of a Borrowing Base Certificate under clause (f) above, the following information as of such Borrowing Base Reporting Date, all delivered electronically in a text formatted file in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent:
(i) (A) a summary level aging of the Loan Parties’ Accounts (1) including all invoices’ invoice date and payment terms) and (2) reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered as of such date in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (B) a summary aging of the Loan Parties’ Accounts specifying the name, address and balance due for each Account Debtor.
(ii) a summary level aging of the Loan Parties’ Credit Card Accounts Receivables (A) including aging by each credit card issuer and credit card processor and (B) reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered as of such date, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with a summary specifying the balance due from each credit card issuer or credit card processor;
(iii) a summary level report of the Loan Parties’ Inventory, (A) by location (showing Inventory in transit, any Inventory located with a third party under any consignment, bailee arrangement or warehouse agreement), by product type and by volume on hand, which Inventory shall be valued at the lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market and adjusted for Reserves as the Administrative Agent has previously indicated to the Borrower Representative are deemed by the Administrative Agent to be appropriate, (B) including a report of any variances or other results of Inventory counts performed by the Loan Parties since the last Inventory schedule (including information regarding sales or other reductions, additions, returns, credits issued by the Loan Parties), and (C) reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered as of such date;
(iv) a worksheet of calculations prepared by the Loan Parties to determine Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivables, Eligible Accounts, Eligible Finished Goods Inventory and Eligible Intellectual Property, such worksheets detailing the Credit Card Accounts Receivables, Accounts, Inventory and Trademark Assets excluded from Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivables, Eligible Accounts, Eligible Finished Goods Inventory and Eligible Intellectual Property and the reasons for such exclusion;
(v) a reconciliation of the Loan Parties’ Credit Card Accounts Receivables, Accounts and Inventory between the amounts shown in the Loan Parties’ general ledger and financial statements and the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above;
(vi) a reconciliation of the loan balance per the Loan Parties’ general ledger to the loan balance under this Agreement;
(vii) a schedule and aging of each Subsidiary’s accounts payable as of the month then ended, broken out by vendor and delivered electronically in a text formatted file in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
(viii) a schedule of Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts, including the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents held in each Deposit Account and Securities Account, broken out by jurisdiction and identifying whether each Deposit Account and Securities Account is subject to a Control Agreement; and
(ix) a summary level report of balances in respect of Intercompany Sourcing Arrangements and the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program, specifying the aggregate credits and liabilities of the Company and each Subsidiary party thereto, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
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(h) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Company or any Subsidiary with the SEC or any Canadian federal or provincial securities commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Company to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; provided that the Company shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this Section 5.01(h) upon the filing of such reports, statements or materials through the SEC’s EDGAR system or the publication by the Company of such reports, statements or materials on its website;
(i) promptly after any request therefor by the Administrative Agent, copies of (x)(i) each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each Plan; (ii) the most recent actuarial valuation report for each Plan; (iii) such other documents or governmental reports or filings relating to any Plan as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request and (y)(i) any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that the Loan Parties or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan and (ii) any notices described in Section 101(1)(1) of ERISA that the Loan Parties or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if the Loan Parties or any ERISA Affiliate have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, upon request by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate shall promptly make a request for such documents and notices from such administrator or sponsor and shall provide copies of such documents and notices to the Administrative Agent promptly after receipt thereof; provided, further that notwithstanding anything herein the rights of the Administrative Agent under Section 5.01(i)(y)(ii) shall be exercised not more than once with respect to the same Multiemployer Plan during any applicable plan year;
(j) promptly after the filing thereof with any Governmental Authority upon request of the Administrative Agent, a copy of each actuarial valuation report in respect of any Canadian Pension Plan;
(k) promptly after any request therefor, (x) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Company or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include standalone financial statements for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and (y) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation;
(l) the reporting set forth on Schedule 5.01, by the applicable dates set forth thereon;
(m) prior to the consummation of any transaction or transactions (or release of a Loan Party that is or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary) that, individually or in the aggregate for all such transactions and releases since the most recent delivery of a Borrowing Base Certificate, would on a pro forma basis result in a reduction in the value of the Aggregate Borrowing Base in effect at such time by the lesser of (i) 5% or (ii) $4,000,000 or more (including, without limitation, as a result of any Investment, Restricted Payment or other Disposition of, subordination of the Administrative Agent’s Liens on, or release of a Loan Party owning, Eligible Accounts, Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable, Eligible Finished Goods Inventory or Eligible Intellectual Property (whether as part of a sale of Equity Interests or otherwise)), as a condition to the permissibility of the consummation of such transaction or transactions or release pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, without limitation, any basket or exception to any negative covenant in Article VI), (x) the Borrower Representative shall deliver an updated Borrowing Base Certificate giving pro forma effect to such transaction or transactions or release and (y) after giving effect to such transaction or transactions or release and such updated Borrowing Base Certificate, the Company shall be in compliance with Section 6.12 and the Borrowers shall be in compliance with the Revolving Exposure Limitations (the requirements of this proviso, the “Updated Borrowing Base Condition”); and
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(n) (A) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the execution of any new Exchange Document or the effective date of any amendment, waiver or modification of any of the Exchange Documents, copies of drafts of such amendment, waiver or other document and at least one (1) Business Day prior to the execution of any such new Exchange Document or the effective date of any such amendment, waiver or modification of any of the Exchange Documents, copies of executed versions of such amendment, waiver or other document and (B) promptly (and in any event, with one (1) Business Day) after the receipt or delivery thereof, any material notice from or to any of the Consenting Noteholders under the Exchange TSA.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.01 or Section 5.02 may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which such materials are publicly available as posted on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR); or (ii) on which such documents are posted on a 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 made available by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (A) upon written request by the Administrative Agent (or any Lender through the Administrative Agent) to the Borrower Representative, the Borrower Representative shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or such Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (B) the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by fax or through Electronic Systems) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent through Electronic Systems electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by any Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such document to it and maintaining its copies of such documents.
SECTION 5.02 Notices of Material Events. The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders) written notice promptly upon any Financial Officer, or other officer or employee responsible for compliance with the Loan Documents, of the Company or any Subsidiary becoming aware of any of the following:
(a) (i) the occurrence of any Default, (ii) any event or circumstance which constitutes or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute a default or event of default under any Material Contract to which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties may be bound which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) any event or circumstance which constitutes or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute a default, event of default or termination event under the Exchange Documents, together with a copy of any written notice sent or received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection therewith, (iv) any termination or threatened termination or any alleged breach of the Exchange TSA, together with a copy of any written notice sent or received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection therewith, or (v) the occurrence of a UK Proceeding Trigger Event (as defined in the Exchange TSA);
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or involving the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any adverse development in any such pending action, suit or proceeding not previously disclosed in writing by the Company to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, that in each case would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or that in any manner questions the validity of any Loan Document;
(c) any and all notices that a material default has occurred and is continuing received under or with respect to any leased location or public warehouse where Collateral having an aggregate value in excess of $2,000,000 is located (which shall be delivered within ten (10) Business Days after receipt thereof);
(d) the occurrence of an ERISA Event or Foreign Pension Plan Event that has resulted, or would reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect;
(e) any change in the fiscal year of the Company or its method of determining fiscal quarters or fiscal months;
(f) any other development that has resulted, or would reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect; or
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(g) any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification.
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Company setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.03 Additional Subsidiaries.
(a) Subject to applicable law, each Borrower and each Loan Party will cause each Designated Subsidiary formed or acquired after the Effective Date or that becomes a Designated Subsidiary after the Effective Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to within 30 days (in each case, as such time may be extended in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion) (i) become a Guarantor by executing a Joinder Agreement and (ii) satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement with respect to such Designated Subsidiary and with respect to any Equity Interests in or Indebtedness of such Designated Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party. Upon execution and delivery thereof, each such Person (i) shall automatically become a Guarantor hereunder and thereupon shall have all of the rights, benefits, duties, and obligations in such capacity under the Loan Documents and (ii) will grant Liens to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender Parties, in any property of such Loan Party which constitutes Collateral, under the applicable Security Agreement.
(b) At the option of the Borrower Representative, it may (i) cause a U.S. Subsidiary to become a “U.S. Subsidiary Borrower” hereunder, (ii) [reserved], (iii) cause a Swiss Subsidiary to become a “Swiss Borrower” hereunder, (iv) [reserved], (v) [reserved], (vi) cause a Canadian Subsidiary to become a “Canadian Borrower” hereunder or (vi) cause a German Subsidiary to become a “German Borrower” hereunder, in each case, by (x) delivering a written notice to the Administrative Agent at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to such Subsidiary becoming a Borrower, (y) at least three (3) Business Days prior to such Subsidiary becoming a Borrower, delivering to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, in each case to the extent requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to such Subsidiary becoming a Borrower, and (z) causing such Subsidiary (A) to execute a joinder agreement to this Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; (B) to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement with respect to the assets of such Subsidiary and with respect to any Equity Interests in or Indebtedness of such Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party and to take all actions necessary or advisable in the opinion of the Administrative Agent to cause the Lien created by the applicable Collateral Document to be duly perfected to the extent required by such agreement in accordance with all applicable requirements of Law, including the filing of financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent; (C) at the request of the Administrative Agent, to deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of an opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders, of counsel to the Loan Parties reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to such matters set forth in this Section 5.03(b) and customarily opined upon by counsel to the Loan Parties as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; (D) to cooperate with the Administrative Agent, and any examiners and appraisers engaged by the Administrative Agent, to facilitate the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the results of an appraisal and a field examination, from an appraiser and an examiner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and (E) to duly authorize, execute and deliver such customary documentation, and take such other customary collateral security and perfection actions, deemed reasonably necessary by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, to provide a valid and enforceable first priority and perfected or equivalent Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) in the Collateral of such Subsidiary.
SECTION 5.04 Information Regarding Collateral. Each Loan Party will furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice (and in any event within 30 days thereof) of any change in (i) its legal name, as set forth in its organizational or constitutional documents, (ii) its jurisdiction of organization or the form of its organization (including as a result of any merger, amalgamation or consolidation), (iii) the location of its chief executive office or, in the case of a UK Loan Party, its registered office address, (iv) the jurisdiction in which it maintains any Inventory, or (v) its organizational identification number, if any and the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number of such Loan Party, in each case of this subclause (v), only with respect to any Loan Party organized under the laws of a jurisdiction that requires such information to be set forth on the face of a UCC financing statement. Each Loan Party agrees not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all filings or registrations have been made under the UCC, the PPSA or other applicable law, as applicable or otherwise that are required in order for the Administrative Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in all the Collateral affected thereby. Each Loan Party also agrees promptly to notify the Administrative Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed.
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SECTION 5.05 Existence; Conduct of Business. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect (i) its legal existence and (ii) the rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names and other Intellectual Property material to the conduct of its business, except, in the case of clause (i) (other than with respect to Borrowers) and clause (ii), where failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, amalgamation, consolidation, Division, liquidation, dissolution, Disposition or other transaction permitted under Section 6.03 or 6.05.
SECTION 5.06 Payment of Obligations. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, pay or discharge all its material obligations, including Tax liabilities, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) (i) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and (ii) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP or (b) the failure to make payment would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.07 Maintenance of Properties. The Company will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) to, maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.08 Insurance. The Company will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies having a financial strength rating of at least A- by A.M. Best Company insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks (including, without limitation, product liability and product recall insurance) as are customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. The Company will furnish to the Lenders, upon request of the Administrative Agent, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained. Each such policy of liability or casualty insurance maintained by or on behalf of Loan Parties shall (a) in the case of each liability insurance policy (other than workers’ compensation, director and officer liability or other policies in which such endorsements are not customary), name the Administrative Agent, as an additional insured thereunder, (b) in the case of each casualty insurance policy, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Administrative Agent, as a loss payee thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentences of this Section 5.08, the Company and any Subsidiary may self-insure against such risks and in such amounts as are customary in such Person’s industry. Notwithstanding any of the terms contained herein or in any other Loan Document, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Company or any other Loan Party, as applicable, may adjust, settle and compromise any insurance claim or any proposed condemnation award, and shall collect the net proceeds thereof and have the right to repair, refurbish, restore, replace or rebuild any asset affected by any casualty event or taking.
SECTION 5.09 Books and Records; Inspection Rights. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, (a) keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct (in all material respects) entries in accordance with GAAP and applicable law are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (b) permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers retained by the Administrative Agent), upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and, accompanied by one or more such officers or designees of the Company, independent accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as reasonably requested (but in no event more than once per Fiscal Year of the Company unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). The Borrower shall have the right to have a representative present at any and all inspections (but, for the avoidance of doubt, such presence shall not be required nor shall it be a condition to any such visit or inspection). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to conduct appraisals or field examinations shall be governed exclusively by Sections 5.12 and 5.13, respectively, and shall not be limited by this Section.
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SECTION 5.10 Compliance with Laws.
(a) Each Loan Party will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all laws (including Environmental Laws and all orders of any Governmental Authority) applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Foreign Pension Plans. The Company shall ensure that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has been at any time an employer (for the purposes of Sections 38 to 51 of the United Kingdom’s Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the United Kingdom’s Pension Schemes Act 1993) or “connected” with or an “associate” of (as those terms are used in Sections 38 or 43 of the United Kingdom’s Pensions Act 2004) such an employer.
SECTION 5.11 Use of Proceeds. Each Borrower will cause the Letters of Credit and proceeds of the Loans to be used only, (a) on the Effective Date, to finance the Refinancing and to pay fees, commissions, costs and expenses in connection with the Transactions, and (b) after the Effective Date, for other general corporate purposes and working capital needs of the Borrowers (including for Investments and Capital Expenditures) subject to the restrictions otherwise set forth in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the repurchase of the Company’s Equity Interests as and to the extent permitted by Section 6.08. No part of the proceeds of any Loan and no Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, (v) for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Federal Reserve Board, including Regulations T, U and X, (w) for any purpose that entails a violation of applicable legislation governing financial assistance and/or capital maintenance, as set forth in Section 5.15, (x) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (y) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, except to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions, or (z) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto. The foregoing clauses (y) and (z) of this Section 5.11 will not apply to any Canadian Loan Party or any party hereto to which the Blocking Regulation applies, if and to the extent that such representations are or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that party pursuant to, or would otherwise result in a breach and/or violation of, (i) any applicable Canadian law, rule or regulation or any provision of the Blocking Regulation (or any law or regulation implementing the Blocking Regulation in any member state of the European Union) or (ii) any similar blocking or anti-boycott law in the United Kingdom. The foregoing clauses (y) and (z) of this Section 5.11 shall not apply to any German Loan Party to the extent it would violate section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Ordinance (Außenwirtschaftsverordnung), any provision of Council Regulation (EC) 2271/96 of 22 November 1996 or any similar applicable anti-boycott law or regulation binding on that German Loan Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall ensure that at any time during the term of this Agreement no proceeds under any Loan will be on-lent or made otherwise available and the Letters of Credit will be used or made otherwise available, directly or indirectly, to any member of the group incorporated in Switzerland and/or having its registered office in Switzerland and/or qualifying as a Swiss resident pursuant to article 9 of the Swiss Withholding Tax Act; or otherwise be used or made available, directly or indirectly, in each case, in a manner which would constitute a “harmful use of proceeds in Switzerland” (schädliche Mittelverwendung in der Schweiz) as interpreted by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration for purposes of Swiss Withholding Tax, unless and until the Administrative Agent receives the Swiss Tax Ruling.
SECTION 5.12 Appraisals. The Loan Parties will provide to the Administrative Agent from time to time upon the Administrative Agent’s request, at the sole expense of the Loan Parties, appraisals (or updates thereof) of the Inventory and Intellectual Property of the Loan Parties (including, without limitation, with respect to Intellectual Property, a forced liquidation value analysis) from appraisers selected and engaged by the Administrative Agent; provided that the Administrative Agent shall request only two such Inventory appraisals and two such Intellectual Property appraisals in any twelve-month period ending on or before the second anniversary of the Effective Date (excluding the initial appraisals referred to on Schedule 5.25), and one such Inventory appraisal and one such Intellectual Property appraisal in any twelve-month period commencing thereafter, except that (a) at any time when Availability shall have been less than the greater of (i) 25% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $31,250,000, the Administrative Agent may request a third Inventory appraisal and/or a third Intellectual Property appraisal in the then-current
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twelve-month period (if ending on or before the second anniversary of the Effective Date), or a second Inventory appraisal and/or a second Intellectual Property appraisal in the then-current twelve-month period (if commencing thereafter), (b) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, there shall be no limitation on the number of appraisals that the Administrative Agent may request and (c) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have consummated any Permitted Acquisition, the Administrative Agent may request a separate appraisal of the inventory and/or intellectual property acquired thereby to the extent the Loan Parties desire to include such inventory or intellectual property in Eligible Finished Goods Inventory or Eligible Intellectual Property, as applicable. For purposes of the foregoing, it is understood that a single appraisal may consist of appraisals of the assets of each Loan Party and may be conducted at multiple sites. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent may request appraisals in addition to those authorized by the preceding sentences of this Section; provided that the Loan Parties will not be responsible for the expense of appraisals conducted pursuant to this sentence.
SECTION 5.13 Field Examinations. At any time that the Administrative Agent requests, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will allow the Administrative Agent, at the sole expense of the Loan Parties, to conduct, or engage a third party to conduct, field examinations (or updates thereof) during normal business hours to ensure the adequacy of Collateral included in the Borrowing Base and related reporting and control systems; provided that the Administrative Agent shall conduct only two such field examinations in any twelve-month period ending on or before the second anniversary of the Effective Date (excluding the initial field examination referred to in Section 4.01(r)), and one such field examination in any twelve-month period commencing thereafter, except that (a) at any time when Availability shall have been less than the greater of (i) 25% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $31,250,000, the Administrative Agent may conduct a third field examination in the then-current twelve-month period (if ending on or before the second anniversary of the Effective Date), or a second field examination in the then-current twelve-month period (if commencing thereafter), (b) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, there shall be no limitation on the number of field examinations that the Administrative Agent may conduct and (c) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have consummated any Permitted Acquisition, the Administrative Agent may conduct a separate field examination of the Collateral acquired thereby to the extent the Loan Parties desire to include such Collateral in the Borrowing Base. For purposes of the foregoing, it is understood that a single field examination may consist of examinations of the assets of each Loan Party and may be conducted at multiple sites. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent may conduct, or engage a third party to conduct, field examinations in addition to those authorized by the preceding sentences of this Section; provided that the Loan Parties will not be responsible for the expense of field examinations conducted pursuant to this sentence.
SECTION 5.14 Depository Banks. Subject to Section 5.18, the Loan Parties will maintain one or more financial institutions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as their principal depository bank and securities intermediary, including for the maintenance of operating, administrative, cash management, collection activity, and other Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts for the conduct of their business; provided that the Loan Parties shall not be required to satisfy the foregoing requirement with respect to any Deposit Account that is an Excluded Account.
SECTION 5.15 Further Assurances. The Loan Parties will execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, and other documents) that are required under the Collateral Documents or this Agreement to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and remain satisfied at all times. The Loan Parties also agree to provide to the Administrative Agent, from time to time upon reasonable request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents.
SECTION 5.16 Credit Card Agreements and Notifications. Each U.S. Loan Party will (a) comply in all material respects with all its obligations under each Credit Card Agreement to which it is party and (b) maintain credit card arrangements solely with the credit card issuers and credit card processors identified in Schedule 3.18; provided, however, that the Borrower Representative may amend Schedule 3.18 to remove any credit card issuer or credit card processor identified on Schedule 3.18 or to add additional credit card issuers and credit card processors, and concurrently with the making of any such amendment the Loan Party shall provide to the Administrative Agent evidence that a Credit Card Notification shall have been delivered to any credit card issuer or credit card processor added to Schedule 3.18.
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SECTION 5.17 Designation of Subsidiaries. The Company may at any time following the occurrence of a Successful Exchange Transaction designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than a Borrower) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, with the consent of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion and subject to the Updated Borrowing Base Condition if applicable thereto; provided that (i) immediately before and after such designation, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) immediately before and after such designation, the Payment Conditions shall be satisfied on a Pro Forma Basis, (iii) no Subsidiary may be designated or maintained as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for purposes of the documentation governing any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(x) or any Permitted Debt or, in either case, any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, as applicable, and (iv) no Subsidiary may be designated or maintained as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it owns or holds, either directly or indirectly through its ownership of any Equity Interests of any other Person, (A) any Eligible Intellectual Property or any other Material Intellectual Property or (B) any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or any Lien on any property of, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (calculated as an amount equal to the sum of (x) the fair market value of the Equity Interests of the designated Subsidiary and any of its Subsidiaries that are owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such designation (such fair market value to be calculated without regard to any Obligations of such designated Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries under its Guarantee of the Obligations) and (y) the aggregate principal amount of any Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary and any of its Subsidiaries to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such designation, all calculated, except as set forth in the parenthetical to clause (x) above, on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP). Upon the designation of any Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the foregoing, such Guarantor shall cease to be a “Guarantor” under this Agreement.
SECTION 5.18 Deposit Accounts. Except to the extent that the Administrative Agent shall determine any portion of this Section 5.18 shall not be required in its Permitted Discretion:
(a) Each Loan Party shall within 30 days (or in the case of Deposit Accounts in Germany and Switzerland, the time period set forth in the German Security Agreements and Swiss Security Agreements, respectively) (as such period may be extended in Administrative Agent’s sole discretion for a period of not more than sixty (60) days or for such longer period with the consent of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion) after the Effective Date or, if opened following the Effective Date, within 30 days (or in the case of Deposit Accounts in Germany and Switzerland, the time period set forth in the German Security Agreements and Swiss Security Agreements, respectively) (as such period may be extended in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion for a period of not more than sixty (60) days or for such longer period with the consent of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion), of the opening of such Deposit Account (other than an Excluded Account) or the date any Person that owns such Deposit Account becomes a Loan Party hereunder, execute and deliver, and cause each relevant depository institution to execute and deliver, to the Administrative Agent a Control Agreement or other control arrangement satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for each Deposit Account (other than any Excluded Account) of such Loan Party maintained on the Effective Date to ensure that each such Deposit Account is a Concentration Account.
(b) Each Loan Party shall direct all of its Account Debtors and credit card processors to forward payments (other than payments made at the time merchandise is purchased directly at retail stores of such Loan Parties, so long as such payments are promptly deposited into a Collection Account) directly to a Collection Account; provided that such Loan Parties shall not be required to comply with the foregoing until the 30th day (as such date may be extended in Administrative Agent’s sole discretion for a period of not more than sixty (60) days or for such longer period with the consent of the Required Lenders in their sole discretion) after the Effective Date. If any Loan Party should refuse or neglect to notify any Account Debtor or credit card processor to forward payments directly to a Collection Account after notice from the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to make such notification directly to such Account Debtor or credit card processor, respectively. If notwithstanding the foregoing instructions, any Loan Party receives any proceeds of any Accounts (other than payments made by retail customers directly to retail stores of such Loan Parties, so long as such payments are promptly deposited into a Collection Account), such Loan Party shall receive such payments as the Administrative Agent’s trustee, and shall immediately deposit all cash, checks or other similar payments related to or constituting payments made in respect of receivables received by it into a Collection Account. Each relevant Borrower will execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent any additional UK Security Agreements and security releases (each in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) as required by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion to create a fixed charge over its Collection Accounts held in England and Wales.
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(c) The Loan Parties shall be entitled to open Deposit Accounts that are subject to Control Agreements or other control arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect to which such Loan Parties shall be entitled to control disbursements provided that no proceeds of Accounts are paid to such Deposit Accounts.
(d) The Loan Parties shall provide, or use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable depository banks to provide, the Administrative Agent with “view-only” access to each of the Loan Parties’ Deposit Accounts requested by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 5.19 Dominion Period.
(a) During the Dominion Period, at the request of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, the applicable Loan Parties shall instruct (or the Administrative Agent may so instruct) each applicable account bank to have all amounts on deposit in each Collection Account or Concentration Account included in the Administrative Agent’s request (or as elected by the Administrative Agent if it so instructs) swept on each Business Day into a Primary Concentration Account or into any other account designated by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may otherwise exercise exclusive control with respect to any such Collection Account or Concentration Account, in which case the Loan Parties shall not have any access to such Collection Accounts or Concentration Accounts or provide any instructions to any account bank with respect to such Collection Accounts or Concentration Accounts.
(b) European Bank Accounts.
(i) Each European Loan Party shall, following the commencement of a Dominion Period and as long as it is continuing, either (A) immediately (and for so long as the same shall be continuing), cause all amounts standing to the credit of each of its Collection Accounts to be transferred on a daily basis to a bank account nominated by the Administrative Agent for application in accordance with terms of this Agreement; or (B) if so directed by the Administrative Agent, immediately (and in any event within one Business Day) amend or set up a new bank account mandate with respect to each of its Collection Accounts which has the effect of removing that European Loan Party’s representatives as an authorized signatories and adding the Administrative Agent’s representatives as sole authorized signatories thereby granting the Administrative Agent exclusive withdrawal rights to transfer on a daily basis, all balances in such Collection Account for application to the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(ii) [Reserved].
(iii) Each European Loan Party agrees that, following the commencement of a Dominion Period, and as long as it is continuing, at the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, its Collection Accounts shall be subject to Agent’s sole dominion and control (including, but not limited to the sole power of withdrawal) and the only way in which monies may be withdrawn from any such Collection Account is (i) by (or on the authorization or instruction of) the Administrative Agent in order to apply them in accordance with this Agreement or (ii) at the sole discretion of, and through the express authorization or instruction by, the Administrative Agent, and Agent’s sole dominion and control shall continue until the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, deems that such dominion and control is no longer necessary.
SECTION 5.20 Notification of Account Debtors of the European Loan Parties. At any time at the request of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion following the Commencement of a Dominion Period, each European Loan Party agrees that if any of its Account Debtors have not previously received notice of the security interest of the Administrative Agent over the Accounts, it shall promptly give notice to such Account Debtors and if any such Loan Party does not serve such notice, each of them hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to serve such notice on their behalf.
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SECTION 5.21 Financial Assistance. Each European Loan Party shall comply in all respects with applicable legislation governing financial assistance and/or capital maintenance, including Sections 678 and 679 of the United Kingdom’s Companies Act 2006, and any equivalent and applicable provisions under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of each such Loan Party, including in relation to the execution of the Collateral Documents of each such Loan Party and payment of amounts due under this Agreement.
SECTION 5.22 European Collateral. Each European Loan Party shall ensure that (i) its standard terms and conditions of purchase at all times contain a condition to the effect that title to the purchased goods transfers to the relevant Loan Party at a time no later than on delivery of the purchased goods to such Loan Party, (ii) its standard terms and conditions of purchase are not amended in a manner that is material and adverse to the Lenders, and (iii) if the reference on any purchase order or equivalent document is to the standard terms and conditions of purchase as set out on a specified website, the relevant website must be maintained, up to date and publicly accessible at all times. During any Dominion Period or at any other time at which the Administrative Agent considers that the Collateral of any European Loan Party may be at risk, at the request of the Administrative Agent, the specified Loan Party must send a copy of its standard terms and conditions of purchase (or other notice satisfactory to the Administrative Agent which rejects retention of title and/or extendible retention of title provisions in relation to that Loan Party’s Inventory) to its suppliers.
SECTION 5.23 Centre of Main Interests and Establishments.
(a) Each German Loan Party and Dutch Loan Party shall ensure that its centre of main interests (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Regulation) remains in its jurisdiction of incorporation and it shall not take any action to change its centre of main interests. No German Loan Party or Dutch Loan Party shall create or take any steps to create an “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Regulation) in any other jurisdiction (or any equivalent provision(s) of any application successor to the Regulation which may apply from time to time).
(b) Each UK Loan Party shall ensure that its centre of main interests (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Retained Regulation) remains in its jurisdiction of incorporation and it shall not take any action to change its centre of main interests. No UK Loan Party shall create or take any steps to create an “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the Regulation) in any other jurisdiction (or any equivalent provision(s) of any applicable successor to the Retained Regulation or Regulation, respectively, which may apply from time to time).
SECTION 5.24 Lender Calls. The Loan Parties shall hold and participate in monthly conference calls, at times reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, with all of the Lenders that choose to participate, to review and discuss the most recent results of operations, financial condition and projections of the Company and its Subsidiaries, together with such other topics as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
SECTION 5.25 Post-Closing Requirements. The Loan Parties shall deliver, when and as required by the terms of Schedule 5.25, the items referenced therein.
SECTION 5.26 Compliance with the Swiss Non-Bank Rules. Each Swiss Borrower (and each Swiss Subsidiary) shall ensure that it is at all times throughout the duration of the Agreement in full compliance with the Swiss Non-Bank Rules. For the purposes of compliance with the Swiss Non-Bank Rules, it is assumed that the number of Lenders which are Non-Qualifying Banks is ten. A Swiss Borrower shall not be in breach of this representation if Swiss Withholding Tax is triggered as a result of a Lender’s failure to comply with Sections 9.04(b)(iii) or 9.04(c) or resulting from an incorrect Lender status confirmation under Section 2.17(i) or having lost the status as Swiss Qualifying Bank.
SECTION 5.27 Exchange Transaction. The Loan Parties shall, and shall cause each applicable Subsidiary party to the Exchange TSA to, (a) perform and observe in all material respects their respective obligations, and enforce their respective rights, under the Exchange TSA, and (b) diligently and in good faith pursue a Successful Exchange Transaction.
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SECTION 5.28 People with Significant Control Regime. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries shall (a) within the relevant timeframe, comply with any notice it receives pursuant to Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006 (UK) from any company incorporated in the United Kingdom whose shares are the subject of a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, and (b) promptly provide the Administrative Agent with a copy of that notice.
SECTION 5.29 Cash Flow Forecasts. Until the occurrence of a Successful Exchange Transaction, the Company shall, on or before the fourth Business Day of the first week (but in any event not later than Friday of such week) of each successive four-week period following the Effective Date (i.e., commencing with the week ending September 5, 2025), submit an updated Cash Flow Forecast for the next successive thirteen-week period. Each Cash Flow Forecast delivered to the Administrative Agent shall be accompanied by such supporting documentation as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. Each Cash Flow Forecast shall be prepared in good faith, with due care, and based upon assumptions which the Company believes to be reasonable.
SECTION 5.30 Company Financial Advisor. Upon the occurrence of an Exchange Transaction Termination Event, the Loan Parties shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, (a) at the election of the Administrative Agent, engage a Company Financial Advisor on terms and conditions (including as to scope of engagement) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (b) fully cooperate with such Company Financial Advisor, including in connection with the preparation of reporting or information required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement or that is requested by the Administrative Agent from time to time. The Loan Parties hereby (x) authorize the Administrative Agent (or its agents or advisors) to communicate directly with the Company Financial Advisor regarding any and all matters related to the Loan Parties and their Affiliates, including all financial reports and projections developed, reviewed or verified by the Company Financial Advisor and all additional information, reports and statements requested by the Administrative Agent and (y) authorize and direct the Company Financial Advisor to provide the Administrative Agent (or their respective agents or advisors) with copies of reports and other information or materials prepared or reviewed by the Company Financial Advisor as the Administrative Agent may request in writing.
SECTION 5.31 Exchange Milestones. The Loan Parties shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, (i) comply with each of the covenants contained on Schedule 5.31 (collectively, the “Exchange Milestones”), upon the terms and at the times provided for therein; provided that, the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, extend any of the Exchange Milestones for a period of not more than five (5) Business Days in the aggregate for any particular Exchange Milestone, and (ii) provide the Administrative Agent with a status report and such other updated information relating to the achievement of any Exchange Milestone as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 5.32 Cybersecurity and Data Protection. The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall, except as would not cause or would not be reasonably expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) maintain the information technology systems used in the business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries so as to operate and perform in all material respects as required to permit the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to conduct their business as presently conducted and (b)(i) implement and maintain a reasonable enterprise-wide privacy and information security program with plans, policies and procedures for privacy, physical and cybersecurity, disaster recovery, business continuity and incident response, including reasonable and appropriate administrative technical and physical safeguards to protect information subject to any applicable data protection laws and the information technology systems of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries from any unauthorized access, use, control, disclosure, destruction or modification and (ii) be in compliance with all applicable law and Material Contracts regarding the privacy and security of customer, consumer, patient, employee and other personal data and is compliant with their respective published privacy policies.
SECTION 5.33 Intercompany Sourcing Arrangements. The Loan Parties shall, and shall cause Fossil East and each other applicable Subsidiary to, (a) comply in all material respects with the terms of the Sourcing Rights Agreement, (b) cause the aggregate outstanding amount of intercompany receivables owing by the Loan Parties to the non-Loan Parties (including Fossil East) under inventory sourcing arrangements (the “Intercompany Sourcing Arrangements”) to be equal to or greater than $100,000,000 at all times and (c) cause all intercompany receivables owing under Intercompany Sourcing Arrangements to be subject to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement at all times; provided that, the Loan Parties shall (x) make payments under Intercompany Sourcing Arrangements only in the ordinary course of business and (y) not pay any intercompany receivables owing to any non-Loan Parties (including Fossil East) under Intercompany Sourcing Arrangements if a Dominion Period has occurred and is continuing.
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ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable under any Loan Document (other than Banking Services Obligations and contingent or indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made) have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Loan Parties severally covenant and agree with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01 Indebtedness; Certain Equity Securities.
(a) The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(i) Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;
(ii) Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(iii) Indebtedness of the Company to any Restricted Subsidiary and of any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (A) such Indebtedness shall not have been transferred to any Person other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (B) any such Indebtedness owing by (x) a Loan Party to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or (y) a Loan Party to another Loan Party (except to the extent owing by a U.S. Loan Party to another U.S. Loan Party) shall, in each case be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the applicable Secured Obligations pursuant to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, and (C) any such Indebtedness shall be incurred in compliance with Section 6.04;
(iv) Guarantees incurred in compliance with Section 6.04; provided that, in the event such Indebtedness that is being Guaranteed under this clause (iv) is Subordinated Indebtedness, then the related Guarantee shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations;
(v) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, provided that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets or (B) assumed in connection with the acquisition of any fixed or capital assets, and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (v) shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(vi) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and otherwise in connection with deposit and checking accounts, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(vii) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees and similar instruments issued for the account of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting obligations under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws;
(viii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the form of bona fide purchase price adjustments or earn-outs incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted by Section 6.04;
(ix) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Banking Services;
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(x) other Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, at any time outstanding, the sum of (x) $200,000,000 plus (y) the aggregate principal amount of 2029 1L Notes issued after the Effective Date to fund the IP Advance payment required in connection with the exercise of the Collateral Designation Option under (and as defined in) the Intercreditor Agreement plus (z) any capitalized interest, fees, costs, and expenses in respect of Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 6.01(a)(x); provided that (A) any outstanding 2026 Notes Obligations and 2029 Notes Secured Obligations (and Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) shall in each case be deemed to have been incurred under this Section 6.01(a)(x), (B) all Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred pursuant to this Section 6.01(a)(x) shall not be guaranteed by any Restricted Subsidiary, other than a Person that is also a Loan Party, and (C) except with respect to the 2026 Notes Obligations and the 2029 Notes Secured Obligations, all Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred pursuant to this Section 6.01(a)(x) (1) shall not have a maturity date earlier than 91 days after the Scheduled Maturity Date, determined at the date of incurrence, (2) shall not be subject to mandatory redemption, repurchase, prepayment or sinking fund obligation (except customary asset sale or change-of-control provisions), in each case prior to the date that is 91 days after the Scheduled Maturity Date in effect, determined at the date of incurrence, and (3) to the extent secured, shall be subject to intercreditor arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(xi) Indebtedness of Loan Parties in respect of surety bonds (whether bid performance or otherwise) and performance and completion guarantees and other obligations of a like nature, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(xii) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (A) Permitted Debt; provided that, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and any related transaction on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 1.00 to 1.00 (calculated as of the last day of the Fiscal Month of the Company then most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(b)(ii)) and (B) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (A) above;
(xiii) Indebtedness incurred under leases of real property in respect of tenant improvements;
(xiv) (A) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition so long as (i) such Indebtedness is not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) after giving effect to the assumption of such Indebtedness and any related transaction on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 1.50 to 1.00 (calculated as of the last day of the Fiscal Month of the Company then most recently ended for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(b)(ii)) and (B) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (A) above;
(xv) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries (other than Foreign Loan Parties) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $12,500,000 at any time outstanding; provided that such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by, or secured by any property of, any Loan Party;
(xvi) other Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided that aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness that is either secured and/or has a maturity date earlier than 91 days after the Scheduled Maturity Date, determined at the date of incurrence, shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(xvii) Indebtedness consisting of (A) the financing of insurance premiums and (B) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(xviii) obligations under any agreement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit cards, debit cards, p-cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting, trade finance services, supply chain finance services and other cash management services;
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(xix) Indebtedness in the form of Swap Agreements permitted under Section 6.07;
(xx) ~~Indebtednessconsisting of promissory notes issued to current or former officers, directors and employees (or their respective family members, estates or trusts or other entities for the benefit of any of the foregoing) of the Company or its RestrictedSubsidiaries to purchase or redeem capital stock or options of the Company permitted pursuant to Section 6.08(a)(vi);~~ ~~provided~~ ~~that~~ ~~the aggregate principal amount of~~ ~~all such Indebtedness shall not exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;and~~[reserved]; and
(xxi) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit (i) in effect on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and (ii) in an additional aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding.
(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue any Disqualified Stock.
No Loan Party will incur any Indebtedness under this Section 6.01 if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to refinance any Subordinated Indebtedness of such Loan Party unless such Indebtedness will be subordinated to the Obligations to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness. No Subsidiary (other than a Loan Party) may incur any Indebtedness if such Indebtedness is used, directly or indirectly, to refinance Indebtedness of a Loan Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness or issue Capital Stock that is subordinated in right of payment to the 2029 Notes Secured Obligations or that is subordinated to the Liens securing the 2029 Notes Secured Obligations, unless such Indebtedness or Capital Stock is also subordinated to the Obligations and the Liens securing the Obligations, as applicable.
SECTION 6.02 Liens. The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except (Liens described below are herein referred to as “Permitted Liens”):
(a) Liens created under the Loan Documents or otherwise in favor of the Administrative Agent;
(b) Permitted Encumbrances;
(c) any Lien on any asset of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other asset of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the Effective Date and any extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(d) any Lien existing on any asset (other than Inventory and Accounts) prior to the acquisition thereof by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or existing on any asset (other than Inventory and Accounts) of any Person that becomes (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition) a Restricted Subsidiary (or of any Person not previously a Restricted Subsidiary that is merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted hereunder) after the Effective Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged, amalgamated or consolidated); provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (or such merger, amalgamation or consolidation), (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than, in the case of any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, the assets of any special purpose merger Restricted Subsidiary that is a party thereto) and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (or is so merged, amalgamated or consolidated) and any extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
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(e) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Liens secure only Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(a)(v) and obligations relating thereto not constituting Indebtedness and (ii) such Liens shall not apply to any other asset of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the proceeds and products thereof); provided, further, that in the event purchase money obligations are owed to any Person with respect to financing of more than one purchase of any fixed or capital assets, such Liens may secure all such purchase money obligations and may apply to all such fixed or capital assets financed by such Person;
(f) in connection with the sale or transfer of any Equity Interests or other assets in a transaction permitted under Section 6.05, customary rights and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such sale or transfer pending the completion thereof;
(g) in the case of (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) the Equity Interests in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary, any encumbrance or restriction, including any options, put and call arrangements, rights of first refusal and similar rights related to Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary or such other Person set forth in the organizational documents of such Restricted Subsidiary or such other Person or any related joint venture, shareholders’ or similar agreement;
(h) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits, escrow arrangements or similar arrangements made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement for a Permitted Acquisition or other transaction permitted hereunder;
(i) Liens securing (i) Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(a)(x) (other than any 2026 Notes Obligations, which shall remain unsecured at all times), (ii) obligations relating thereto not constituting Indebtedness and (iii) Swap Obligations secured on a pari passu basis with the Indebtedness referred to in the foregoing clause (i); provided that any such Liens (x) securing the 2029 Notes Secured Obligations may, in connection with a Successful Exchange Transaction, be secured by any Notes Priority Collateral on a senior lien basis to the Liens securing the Secured Obligations and any ABL Priority Collateral solely on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Secured Obligations, in each case, in accordance with (and such Liens shall be subject to) the Intercreditor Agreement, and (y) securing any other Indebtedness or other obligations may be secured by any Collateral solely on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Secured Obligations in accordance with (and such Liens shall be subject to) an intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(j) any Lien on assets of any Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Loan Party) securing Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Loan Party) permitted by Section 6.01(a)(xv) and obligations relating thereto not constituting Indebtedness;
(k) other Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided that such Liens on Indebtedness for borrowed money may be secured by any Collateral solely on a junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Secured Obligations in accordance with (and such Liens shall be subject to) an intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(l) Liens securing Permitted Debt;
(m) Liens in respect of Prior Claims that are unregistered and secure amounts that are not yet due and payable;
(n) Liens on amounts deposited to secure obligations in connection with pension liabilities (Altersteilzeitverpflichtungen) pursuant to § 8a German Partial Retirement Act (Altersteilzeitgesetz) or in connection with time credits (Wertguthaben) pursuant to § 7e German Social Code IV (SozialgesetzbuchIV); and
(o) Deposits of cash collateral securing letters of credit permitted under Section 6.01(a)(xxi).
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SECTION 6.03 Fundamental Changes; Business Activities.
(a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, merge into, amalgamate with or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into, amalgamate with or consolidate with it, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary may merge into or amalgamate with the Company in a transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Person (other than the Company) may merge into, amalgamate with or consolidate with any Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Restricted Subsidiary and, if any party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is a Loan Party, a Loan Party (and, if any party to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is (A) a Borrower, the surviving entity shall be such Borrower, or (B) a U.S. Loan Party, the surviving entity shall be a U.S. Loan Party), (iii) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into, amalgamate with or consolidate with any Person (other than the Company) in a transaction permitted under Section 6.05 in which, after giving effect to such transaction, the surviving entity is not a Restricted Subsidiary, and (iv) without restricting any transactions permitted by the other clauses in this Section 6.03(a), any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Borrower) may liquidate or dissolve, and any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may be merged or consolidated with any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, if the Company determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution or other transaction is in the best interests of the Company and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger, amalgamation or consolidation shall not be permitted unless it is also permitted by Section 6.04. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of any Loan Party or the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of two or more Persons that are not each organized in the same jurisdiction of formation, the Borrower Representative shall (contemporaneously with such liquidation, dissolution, merger, amalgamation or consolidation) deliver an updated Borrowing Base Certificate to the Administrative Agent showing the Borrowing Base in effect after giving effect to such liquidation, dissolution, merger, amalgamation or consolidation.
(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Effective Date and businesses reasonably related or complementary thereto.
SECTION 6.04 Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, purchase, hold, acquire (including pursuant to any merger, amalgamation or consolidation or as a Division Successor pursuant to the Division of, any Person that was not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary prior to such merger, amalgamation, consolidation or Division), make or otherwise permit to exist any Investment in any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all the assets of any other Person or of a business unit, division, product line or line of business of any other Person, except:
(a) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(b) Investments existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.04 (but not any additions thereto (including any capital contributions) made after the Effective Date);
(c) Investments by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in their respective Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (i) such Restricted Subsidiaries are Restricted Subsidiaries prior to, or have been newly formed with the initial Investment therein being, such Investments and (ii) ~~the aggregate amount of~~ such Investments ~~by (x) the Loan Parties in, and loans and advances by the Loan Parties to, and Guarantees by the Loan Parties of Indebtedness and other obligations of,~~ ~~Restricted~~ ~~Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties and (y) the U.S.Loan Parties in, and loans and advances by the U.S. Loan Parties to, and Guarantees by the U.S. Loan Parties of Indebtedness and other obligations of, Foreign Loan Parties~~ ~~(excluding all such Investments, loans, advances and Guarantees existing on the Effective Date and permitted by clause (b) above) together with Investments, loans,advances and Guarantees pursuant to clauses (d) and (e) below, and the Net Cash Pooling Investment at such time~~~~, shall not exceed $10,000,000at any timeoutstanding~~~~;~~shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap;
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(d) loans or advances made by the Company to any Restricted Subsidiary or made by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) the Indebtedness resulting therefrom is permitted by Section 6.01(a)(iii) and (ii) ~~the amount of~~ such loans and advances ~~made (x) by the Loan Parties to Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties and (y) by U.S. Loan Parties to Foreign Loan Parties~~ shall be subject to the ~~limitation set forth in clause (c) above~~Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap;
(e) Guarantees by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of (i) the Obligations and (ii) Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than as specified in the foregoing clause (i) including any such Guarantees arising as a result of any such Person being a joint and several co-applicant with respect to any letter of credit or letter of guaranty; provided that, with respect to the foregoing clause (ii) ~~the aggregate amount of~~such Indebtedness ~~and other obligations of (x) Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties that is Guaranteed by any Loan Party and (y) Foreign Loan Parties that is Guaranteedby any U.S. Loan Party~~ shall be subject to the ~~limitation set forth in clause(c) above~~Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap;
(f) Investments (other than acquisitions) not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.04 so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied after giving effect to each such Investment;
(g) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(h) Permitted Acquisitions;
(i) extensions of trade credit, deposits, prepayments and other credits to vendors, suppliers, lessors, processors, materialmen, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and landlords made in the ordinary course of business;
(j) advances by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices for travel and entertainment expenses, relocation costs and similar purposes in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(k) Investments made as a result of receipt of non-cash consideration from a sale, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted under Section 6.05;
(l) Investments in the form of Swap Agreements permitted under Section 6.07;
(m) investments constituting deposits described in clauses (c) and (d) of the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances” and endorsements of instruments for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;
(n) Investments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the form of Unfinanced Capital Expenditures;
(o) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of leases or other obligations as permitted by Section 6.02;
(p) purchases of assets in the ordinary course of business;
(q) the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing or discharging Indebtedness issued pursuant to an indenture, but only if such defeasing or discharging of Indebtedness is not prohibited under this Agreement; provided that such Investment covers proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary solely to defease or discharge the principal, interest, premium, if any, and if required by the terms of the relevant indenture, fees, costs and expenses due in connection with the defeasance of such Indebtedness;
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(r) Investments consisting of contributions to and borrowings from the cash pool under the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program among the applicable Subsidiaries (other than U.S. Loan Parties) in the ordinary course of business to fund ordinary course operational needs, including purchasing inventory, paying payroll and funding marketing initiatives; provided that (i) the U.S. Loan Parties shall not participate in the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program, (ii) all amounts owing under the Intercompany Cash Pooling Program shall be subject to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement at all times, (iii) the result (to the extent positive) of (x) the aggregate balance at any time of outstanding amounts contributed by Loan Parties to the cash pool minus (y) the aggregate balance of outstanding amounts borrowed by Loan Parties from the cash pool (the “Net Cash Pooling Investment”), ~~together with the outstanding amount ofInvestments, loans, advances and Guarantees at such time that are subject to a cap~~ ~~pursuant to clauses (c), (d) and (e)~~~~above, shall not exceed$10,000,000~~shall be subject to the Shared Non-Guarantor Investments Cap, and (iv) if a Dominion Period has occurred and is continuing, the Loan Parties shall not make any contributions to the cash pool;
(s) ~~Investments by the Company in FossilCanada~~[reserved]; and
(t) other Investments or acquisitions, in cash or in the form of Investments that do not constitute transfers of Collateral, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding.
Unless otherwise specified, for purposes of determining the amount of any Investment outstanding for purposes of this Section 6.04, such amount shall be deemed to be the amount of such Investment when made, purchased or acquired less any amount realized in respect of such Investment upon the sale, collection or return of capital (not to exceed the original amount invested).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any Investment (either directly or indirectly through its ownership of any Equity Interests of any other Person) of any Eligible Intellectual Property, or any other Material Intellectual Property, in or to any Person that is not a Loan Party, (y) the U.S. Loan Parties will not make any Investment (either directly or indirectly through its ownership of any Equity Interests of any other Person) of any Eligible Intellectual Property, or any other Material Intellectual Property, in or to any Person that is not a U.S. Loan Party and (z) any Investment made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any joint venture must be made for a bona fide business purpose, not in contemplation of adversely affecting the Lender Parties’ interests in the Loan Guarantee or the Collateral (as determined by the Borrower Representative in good faith), and not in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness.
SECTION 6.05 Asset Sales. The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Dispose of any asset (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise), including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will the Company permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 6.04, and other than directors’ qualifying shares and other nominal amounts of Equity Interests that are required to be held by other Persons under applicable law), except:
(a) (i) sales or other dispositions of inventory, (ii) sales, transfers and other dispositions of used, surplus, obsolete or outmoded machinery or equipment and (iii) dispositions of cash and Cash Equivalents, in each case (other than in the case of clause (iii)) in the ordinary course of business;
(b) sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions involving (x) a Loan Party and a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or (y) a U.S. Loan Party and a Foreign Loan Party shall be made in compliance with Sections 6.04 and 6.09 (other than clause (f) thereof);
(c) the sale or discount of accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and not in connection with any financing transaction;
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(d) dispositions of assets subject to any casualty or condemnation proceeding (including in lieu thereof);
(e) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of real property granted by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to third Persons not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(f) the sale, transfer or other disposition, or, in the case of clause (ii), abandonment, of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property and data (i) in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of intellectual property; provided that no such sale, transfer or other disposition shall adversely affect in any material respect the fair value of any retained Eligible Finished Goods Inventory or Eligible Intellectual Property or the ability of the Administrative Agent to dispose of or otherwise realize upon any retained Eligible Finished Goods Inventory or Eligible Intellectual Property, or (ii) which do not constitute Material Intellectual Property;
(g) sales of the assets disclosed on Schedule 6.05;
(h) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the sale, transfer or other disposition of assets (other than Intellectual Property) that are not permitted by any other clause of this Section; provided that the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in reliance on this clause (h) during any Fiscal Year of the Company shall not exceed $~~10~~5,000,000;
(i) the disposition of any Swap Agreement;
(j) dispositions of property (other than Intellectual Property) of Foreign Subsidiaries located outside of the United States (and not moved outside of the United States in anticipation of such disposition), having an aggregate fair market value not to exceed $5,000,000 during the term of this Agreement; provided that such property is not Collateral;
(k) dispositions in the ordinary course of business of tangible property as a part of a like kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Code; and
(l) Investments permitted by Section 6.04 (other than clause (k) thereof);
provided that (x) all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted hereby (other than those permitted by clause (a)(ii), (a)(iii), (b)~~, (g) (solely with respect to sales of Equity Interests of certain Subsidiaries disclosed on Schedule 6.05)~~ or (d) above) shall be made for fair value (and, in the case of a sale pursuant to clause (g) above (solely with respect to sales of brands disclosed on Schedule 6.05) or a sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of assets pursuant to clause (f)(ii) above, for at least the Net Orderly Liquidation Value thereof), and (y) in the case of sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted by clauses (c)~~or~~, (h) or (j) above, such Dispositions shall be for at least 75% (or, in the case of a sale pursuant to clause (g) above or a sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of assets pursuant to clause (f)(ii) above or in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000 included in any Borrowing Base, 100%) cash consideration; provided, further, that for purposes of the foregoing, the amount of (i) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Secured Obligations) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and from which the Company and all Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released by all creditors in writing and (ii) any securities received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 90 days following the closing of such asset sale, shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this paragraph and for no other purpose.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Dispose of (either directly or indirectly through its ownership of any Equity Interests of any other Person) any Eligible Intellectual Property, or any other Material Intellectual Property, to any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, (y) the
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U.S. Loan Parties will not Dispose of (either directly or indirectly through its ownership of any Equity Interests of any other Person) any Eligible Intellectual Property, or any other Material Intellectual Property, to any Subsidiary that is not a U.S. Loan Party and (z) any Disposition from a Loan Party to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party must be made for a bona fide business purpose, not in contemplation of adversely affecting the Lender Parties’ interests in the Loan Guarantee or the Collateral (as determined by the Borrower Representative in good faith), and not in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness.
SECTION 6.06 Sale/Leaseback Transactions. The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale/Leaseback Transaction.
SECTION 6.07 Swap Agreements. The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Swap Agreement, other than Swap Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which a Loan Party or a Restricted Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities and not for speculative purposes.
SECTION 6.08 Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness.
(a) The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that (i) the Company may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) or convert its Equity Interests into, or otherwise acquire its Equity Interest solely in exchange for, other Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions with respect to its capital stock, partnership or membership interests or other similar Equity Interests, or make other Restricted Payments in respect of its Equity Interests, in each case ratably to the holders of such Equity Interests (or, if not ratably, on a basis more favorable to the Company and the Subsidiaries), (iii) [reserved], (iv) [reserved], (v) the Company may make cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares representing insignificant interests in the Company in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock in the Company, (vi) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Company may purchase Equity Interests from its or its Subsidiaries’ employees in connection with the satisfaction of any such employee’s tax withholding obligations pursuant to employee benefit plans, and payments of any corresponding amounts to the appropriate Governmental Authority, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 during any Fiscal Year, and (vii) the Company may repurchase shares of its common stock and make other Restricted Payments, provided that at the time of and immediately after giving effect to any such repurchase or other Restricted Payment referred to in this clause (vii), the Payment Conditions have been satisfied.
(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Specified Indebtedness, or any payment or other distribution (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 Specified Indebtedness, except:
(i) payments of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due and mandatory prepayments in respect of any Specified Indebtedness and expenses and indemnity in respect of such Specified Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;
(ii) refinancings of Specified Indebtedness with the proceeds of Refinancing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01;
(iii) payment of secured Specified Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of (A) any voluntary sale or transfer of any assets (other than assets included in any Borrowing Base) securing such Indebtedness or (B) any casualty or condemnation proceeding (including a disposition in lieu thereof) of any assets (other than assets included in any Borrowing Base) securing such Indebtedness;
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(iv) payments of or in respect of Specified Indebtedness solely by issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(v) the Exchange Transactions and any exchange of 2026 Notes into 2029 Notes;
(vi) payments in respect of the 2026 Notes following the consummation of the Exchange Transactions; provided that at the time of and immediately after giving effect thereto, the Payment Conditions have been satisfied; and
(vii) other payments of or in respect of Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of any Subordinated Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof; provided that at the time of and immediately after giving effect thereto, the Payment Conditions have been satisfied.
SECTION 6.09 Transactions with Affiliates. The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, lease, license or otherwise transfer any assets to, or purchase, lease, license or otherwise acquire any assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that would prevail in an arm’s-length transaction with unrelated third parties; provided that, (x) a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors (or disinterested members of any similar governing body) of the Company shall have adopted a resolution or otherwise authorized an action to approve any transaction permitted under this clause (a) that is in excess of $5,000,000 and (y) an independent fairness opinion shall have been issued by a reputable investment bank or other third party reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent affirming the fairness of any transaction permitted under this clause (a) that is in excess of $25,000,000, (b) transactions between or among the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.08, (d) the payment of reasonable fees and compensation to, and the providing of reasonable indemnities on behalf of, directors and officers of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as determined by the board of directors of the Company in good faith and (e) the transactions described in Schedule 6.09 and (f) Investments permitted by Section 6.04.
SECTION 6.10 Restrictive Agreements. The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its assets to secure any Secured Obligations or (b) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to (A) restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document, (B) restrictions and conditions existing on the Effective Date identified in Schedule 6.10 (but shall apply to any amendment or modification), (C) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (D) in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary, restrictions and conditions imposed by its organizational documents or any related joint venture or similar agreement, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to such Subsidiary and to any Equity Interests in such Subsidiary, (E) restrictions and conditions set forth in the definitive documentation governing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a)(x) and 6.01(a)(xvi), provided that, in the case of clause (a) above, such restrictions and conditions are no more onerous than those set forth in this Agreement, (F) restrictions and conditions imposed by agreements relating to Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties permitted under Section 6.01(a), provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to such Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties, and (G) cash to secure letters of credit and other segregated deposits that are permitted pursuant to Section 6.02(h), (ii) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to (A) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(a)(v) if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the assets securing such Indebtedness and (B) customary provisions in leases and other agreements restricting the assignment thereof and (iii) clause (b) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by agreements relating to Indebtedness of any Subsidiary in existence at the time such Subsidiary became a Subsidiary and otherwise permitted under Section 6.01(a) (but shall apply to any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to such Subsidiary. Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to modify the requirements set forth in the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” or the obligations of the Loan Parties under Sections 5.03, 5.04 or 5.15 or under the Collateral Documents.
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SECTION 6.11 Amendment of Other Documents.
(a) The Loan Parties will not, and will permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights under its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents, in either case, to the extent such amendment, modification or waiver would be adverse in any material respect to the rights or interests of the Lenders hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
(b) The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend, modify or waive any of the terms or provisions of any Material Contract, any Specified Indebtedness or any of the 2026 Notes Documents or the 2029 Notes Documents to the extent such amendment, modification or waiver would (i) be adverse in any material respect to the rights or interests of the Lenders hereunder or under any other Loan Document or (ii) violate any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement or subordination provisions applicable thereto. For purposes hereof, any amendment, modification, waiver or supplement to any Material Contract to permit the incurrence of, to establish the terms of, or to evidence Indebtedness otherwise permitted under Section 6.01 hereof shall be deemed not to adverse in any material respect to the rights or interests of the Lenders hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
(c) The Loan Parties will not and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend, modify or waive any of the material terms or provisions of the Exchange TSA or any of the other Exchange Documents without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.
SECTION 6.12 Minimum Availability. The Company will not permit Availability at any time to be less than the greater of (i) 10% of the Line Cap and (ii) $12,500,000.
SECTION 6.13 Non-Ordinary Course Activities Prior to Successful Exchange Transaction. Prior to the occurrence of a Successful Exchange Transaction, the Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to:
(a) create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except (i) under clauses (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a)(xxi)(i) of Section 6.01, (ii) in the ordinary course of business under clauses (a)(iii), (a)(iv) (with respect to clauses (a)(iii) and (a)(iv), only to the extent existing on the Effective Date), (a)(vi), (a)(vii), (a)(ix), (a)(xi), (a)(xvii), (a)(xviii) and (a)(xix) of Section 6.01 and (iii) 2026 Notes Obligations outstanding on the Effective Date, and 2029 Notes Secured Obligations incurred pursuant to a Successful Exchange Transaction, in each case, under clause (a)(x) of Section 6.01;
(b) create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except (i) under clauses (a) and (c) of Section 6.02, (ii) in the ordinary course of business pursuant to clauses (b), (g), (m), (n) and (o) of Section 6.02 and (iii) pursuant to a Successful Exchange Transaction under clause (i) of Section 6.02;
(c) merge into, amalgamate with or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into, amalgamate with or consolidate with it, consummate a Division as the Dividing Person or liquidate or dissolve;
(d) purchase, hold, acquire (including pursuant to any merger, amalgamation or consolidation or as a Division Successor pursuant to the Division of, any Person that was not a wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary prior to such merger, amalgamation, consolidation or Division), make or otherwise permit to exist any Investment in any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all the assets of any other Person or of a business unit, division, product line or line of business of any other Person, except (i) under clause (b) of Section 6.04 and (ii) in the ordinary course of business under clauses (a), (c), (d), (e) (with respect to clauses (c), (d) and (e), only to the extent existing on the Effective Date), (g), (i), (j), (l), (m), (n), (o) and (p) of Section 6.04;
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(e) Dispose of any asset (in one transaction or in a series of transactions and whether effected pursuant to a Division or otherwise), including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will the Company permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 6.04, and other than directors’ qualifying shares and other nominal amounts of Equity Interests that are required to be held by other Persons under applicable law), except (i) under clause (g) of Section 6.05 and (ii) in the ordinary course of business under clauses (a), (c), (f)(i), (i), (k) and (l) of Section 6.05;
(f) declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except in the ordinary course of business under clause (a)(v) of Section 6.08; or
(g) make or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Specified Indebtedness, or any payment or other distribution (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 Specified Indebtedness, except (i) in the ordinary course of business under clauses (b)(i) of Section 6.08 and (ii) pursuant to a Successful Exchange Transaction under clause (b)(v) of Section 6.08.
SECTION 6.14 [Reserved].
SECTION 6.15 Canadian Pension Plans. The Loan Parties shall not (a) contribute to or assume an obligation to contribute to any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, (b) acquire an interest in any Person if such Person sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or at any time in the five-year period preceding such acquisition has sponsored, maintained, or contributed to Canadian Defined Benefit Plan, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent; or (c) wind-up any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan, in whole or in part without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 6.16 Exchange Transaction. The Loan Parties will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate an Exchange Transaction that does not constitute a Successful Exchange Transaction.
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
If any of the following events (each an “Events of Default” and collectively, the “Events of Default”) shall occur:
(a) any Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b) any Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;
(c) any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been materially incorrect when made or deemed made;
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(d) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.01(m), 5.01(n), 5.02(a), 5.05 (with respect to the existence of any Loan Party), 5.11, 5.18 (solely during the continuance of a Dominion Period), 5.19, 5.25, 5.27, 5.29, 5.30, 5.31, 5.33 or in Article VI;
(e) (i) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.01(f), 5.01(g), 5.01(l), 5.12, 5.13, 5.14 or 5.18 (other than during the continuance of a Dominion Period) and any such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days or more (or during a Weekly Reporting Period, two Business Days or more), (ii) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.01(a), (b), (c) or (e) and any such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days or more, or (iii) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any other covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (a), (b), (d), (e)(i) or (e)(ii) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (i) any Loan Party’s knowledge of such breach or (ii) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent;
(f) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal, interest, termination payment or other payment obligation and regardless of amount) in respect of any ~~Material~~ Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) when and as the same shall become due and payable (after giving effect to the passage of any grace, notice and cure periods with respect to such ~~Material~~Indebtedness); provided that this clause (f) shall not apply to Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount that, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness under which there has been a payment default, is less than $10,000,000;
(g) (i) any event or condition shall occur that results in any ~~Material~~ Indebtedness becoming due, or being terminated or required to be prepaid, repurchased, redeemed or defeased, prior to its scheduled maturity, or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf, or, in the case of any Swap Agreement, the applicable counterparty, to cause any ~~Material~~ Indebtedness to become due, or to terminate or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g)(i) shall not apply to (x) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount that, together with the aggregate principal amount of any other Indebtedness which has been so accelerated, is less than $10,000,000, (y) any secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the assets securing such Indebtedness or (~~y~~z) any Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a voluntary refinancing thereof permitted under Section 6.01 or (ii) any Loan Party shall default in the payment when due, or in the performance or observance, of any obligation or condition of any Material Contract and all applicable grace, notice or other cure periods shall have expired unless, but only as long as, the existence of any such default is being contested by such Loan Party or any such Subsidiary in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in respect thereof have been established on the books of such Loan Party to the extent required by GAAP;
(h) an involuntary case or proceeding (including the filing of any notice of intention in respect thereof) shall be commenced or an involuntary petition or application shall be filed seeking (i) bankruptcy, liquidation, winding-up, dissolution, suspension of general operations, composition, rescheduling, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment of, or other relief from, or stay of proceedings to enforce, some or all of its debts or obligations, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state provincial, territorial or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other Insolvency Laws now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of an interim receiver, receiver, receiver an manager, liquidator, administrator, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its operations or assets, and, in any such case, such case or proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
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(i) (i) any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary shall (A) voluntarily commence any case or proceeding or file any petition or application seeking liquidation (other than any liquidation permitted by Section 6.03(a)(iv)), reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state, provincial, territorial or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other Insolvency Laws now or hereafter in effect, (B) consent to the institution of, or failure to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any case or proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (C) apply for or consent to the appointment of an interim receiver, receiver, liquidator, administrator, trustee, monitor, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (D) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition or application filed against it in any such case or proceeding or (E) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the board of directors (or similar governing body) of any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary (or any committee thereof) shall adopt any resolution or otherwise authorize any action to approve any of the actions referred to above in this sub-clause (i) or clause (h) of this Article; and
(ii) without limiting the preceding sub-clause (i), any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to (A) the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganization (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any UK Loan Party; (B) a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any UK Loan Party by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties; (C) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, monitor, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of any UK Loan Party or any of its assets; (D) the enforcement of any Lien over any assets of any UK Loan Party, or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction, provided that this sub-clause (ii) shall not apply to a petition for winding-up presented by a creditor which either is (a) frivolous or vexatious or (b) is being contested in good faith, and which in either case is discharged or struck out within 21 days of commencement; or
(iii) any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution or any analogous process in any jurisdiction affects any asset or assets of a UK Loan Party and is not discharged within 21 days;
(j) (i) any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or, in the case of a UK Loan Party (is deemed to or declared to be unable to pay its debts under applicable law), suspends or threatens to suspend making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors (excluding any Lender Party in its capacity as such) with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness; and
(ii) a moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any UK Loan Party. If a moratorium occurs, the ending of such moratorium will not remedy any Event of Default caused by that moratorium;
(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $15,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment and has not denied coverage) shall be rendered against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any combination thereof, and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
(l) one or more ERISA Events or Foreign Pension Plan Events shall have occurred that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(m) a Change in Control shall occur;
(n) any Loan Guarantee shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any Loan Guarantee, or any Loan Party shall fail to comply in any material respect with any of the terms or provisions of the Loan Guarantee to which it is a party, or any Loan Party shall deny that it has any further liability under the Loan Guarantee to which it is a party, or shall give notice to such effect (except, in each case, as a result of the release thereof as provided herein);
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(o) any Lien purported to be created under any Collateral Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any material Collateral, with the priority required by the applicable Collateral Document, except (i) as a result of the sale or other disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents, (ii) the release thereof as provided in the applicable Collateral Document or Section 9.02(c) or (iii) as a result of the failure of the Administrative Agent to (A) maintain possession of any stock certificates, promissory notes, or other instruments or certificated securities delivered to it under the Security Agreements or (B) file continuation statements with respect to any UCC or PPSA financing statement;
(p) the occurrence of an Exchange Transaction Termination Event; or
(q) any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement is not or ceases to be binding on or enforceable against any party thereto (or against any Person on whose behalf any such party makes any covenant or agreements therein), or shall otherwise not be effective to create the rights and obligations purported to be created thereunder, in each case in any respect material to the Administrative Agent or the other Lender Parties;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h), (i) or (j) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower Representative, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers; and in the case of any event with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h), (i) or (j) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall immediately and automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent
SECTION 8.01 Authorization and Action.
(a) Each of the Lenders and each of the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent and its successors to serve in such capacity and to serve as collateral agent under the Loan Documents, and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States of America, each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney to execute any Collateral Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s behalf. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.
(b) It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto, that as part of its duties and functions, the Administrative Agent shall serve as the hypothecary representative for itself and for all present and future Lender Parties, as contemplated by Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec (the “CCQ”). For greater certainty, and without limiting the powers of the Administrative Agent, each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as hypothecary representative for all present and future Lender Parties as contemplated under Article 2692 of the CCQ in order to hold hypothecs and security granted under any Loan Document pursuant to the
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laws of the Province of Quebec to secure performance of all or part of the Secured Obligations and to exercise such powers and duties which are conferred upon the Lenders and the Issuing Banks thereunder. The appointment of the Administrative Agent as hypothecary representative shall be deemed to have been ratified and confirmed by each Person that accedes or has acceded to this Agreement as a Lender or Issuing Bank after the date hereof. The Loan Parties hereby acknowledge the appointment of the Administrative Agent as the hypothecary representative of the Lender Parties as contemplated under Article 2692 of the CCQ. In the event of the resignation of the Administrative Agent and appointment of a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall also act as hypothecary representative without further formality. The execution by the Administrative Agent as the hypothecary representative of the relevant deeds of hypothec or other relevant documentation prior to the date hereof is hereby ratified and confirmed by each Lender and Issuing Bank. In its capacity of hypothecary representative, the Administrative Agent shall (a) have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise, except as may be otherwise specifically restricted hereunder, all rights and remedies given to the hypothecary representative pursuant to any hypothec, applicable law or otherwise, (b) benefit from and be subject to all provisions hereof with respect to the Administrative Agent, mutatis mutandis, including, without limitation, all such provisions with respect to the liability or responsibility to and indemnification by the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and (c) be entitled to delegate from time to time any of its powers or duties under any hypothec or other Loan Document, on such terms and conditions as it may determine from time to time.
(c) As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or any other Insolvency Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or any other Insolvency Law; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers, any other Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d) In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(i) the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank or Lender Party other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;
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(ii) where the Administrative Agent is required or deemed to act as a trustee in respect of any Collateral over which a security interest has been created pursuant to a Loan Document expressed to be governed by the laws of England and Wales, the obligations and liabilities of the Administrative Agent to the Lender Parties in its capacity as trustee shall be excluded to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; and
(iii) nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.
(e) The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.
(f) [Reserved].
(g) In the event of the pendency of any case or proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Insolvency Law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement 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 any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations 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 Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial case or proceeding; and
(ii) 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, monitor, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator, debtor, debtor-in-possession or other similar official in any such case or proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, Issuing Bank and each other Lender Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the other Lender Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the administrative agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or otherwise accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or similar dispositive restructuring plan affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such case or proceeding.
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The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrowers’ right to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, no Borrower nor any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Lender Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Secured Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.
SECTION 8.02 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.
(a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of default”) is given to such Person by the Borrower Representative, a Lender or an Issuing Bank, and such Person shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral or the existence of the Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any claim, liability, loss, cost or expense suffered by any Borrower, any other Loan Party, any Subsidiary, any Lender or the Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Exposure, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank, or any exchange rate or Dollar Equivalent.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) 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 Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
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SECTION 8.03 Reliance. With respect to its Commitment, Loans and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Bank”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, any Loan Party, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank.
SECTION 8.04 Successor Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower Representative, whether or not a successor has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower Representative (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor its rights as the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrowers, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of the Lender Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Lender Parties and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Collateral Document and Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article, Section 2.17(d) and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative 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 Administrative Agent was acting as the Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (a) above.
SECTION 8.05 Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Bank.
(a) Each Lender represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information
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as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrowers and their Affiliates) 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 Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date or the effective date of any such Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall have become a Lender hereunder.
(c) Each Lender hereby agrees that (i) it has requested a copy of each Report prepared by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent; (ii) the Administrative Agent (A) makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the completeness or accuracy of any Report or any of the information contained therein or any inaccuracy or omission contained in or relating to a Report and (B) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report; (iii) the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, and that any Person performing any field examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Loan Parties and will rely significantly upon the Loan Parties’ books and records, as well as on representations of the Loan Parties’ personnel and that the Administrative Agent undertakes no obligation to update, correct or supplement the Reports; (iv) it will keep all Reports confidential and strictly for its internal use, not share the Report with any Loan Party or any other Person except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Agreement; and (v) without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, (A) it will hold the Administrative Agent and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any extension of credit that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to the Borrower, or the indemnifying Lender’s participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, a Loan or Loans; and (B) it will pay and protect, and indemnify, defend, and hold the Administrative Agent and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any such other Person as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.
(d) (i) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank (any such Lender or Issuing Bank, a “Payment Recipient”) hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Payment Recipient that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Payment Recipient), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Payment Recipient shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the Defaulting Lender Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Payment Recipient shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this Section 8.05(d) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
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(ii) Each Payment Recipient hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Payment Recipient agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Payment Recipient shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the Defaulting Lender Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
(iii) The Borrower Representative and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Payment Recipient that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Payment Recipient with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower Representative or any other Loan Party; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the immediately preceding clauses (x) and (y) shall not apply to the extent any such Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower for the purpose of making such Payment.
(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 8.05(d) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Payment Recipient, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.
SECTION 8.06 Collateral Matters.
(a) Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.08 or with respect to a Lender Party’s right to file a proof of claim and vote with respect thereto in connection with any proposed plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition, or similar dispositive restructuring plan in any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding, no Lender Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Secured Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lender Parties in accordance with the terms thereof. In its capacity, the Administrative Agent is a “representative” of the Lender Parties within the meaning of the term “secured party” as defined in the UCC and the PPSA, as applicable. In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, and hereby granted a power of attorney, to execute and deliver on behalf of the Lender Parties any Loan Documents necessary or appropriate to grant and perfect a Lien on such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lender Parties.
(b) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation thereof, no arrangements in respect of Banking Services the obligations under which constitute Secured Obligations will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Lender Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Lender Party that is a party to any such arrangement in respect of Banking Services shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Lender Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Secured Banking Services Obligations shall only be secured and guaranteed pursuant to the Collateral Documents and only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Secured Obligations are so secured and guaranteed, and (ii) any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not require the consent of the holders of the Secured Banking Services Obligations.
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(c) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any Lender Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.
SECTION 8.07 Credit Bidding. The Lender Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement) 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 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 comparable provisions of any other Insolvency Laws or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan 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 Lender 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 Lender 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 9.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Lender 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 Lender 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 Lender Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations 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 Lender Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Lender Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Lender Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Lender Party (and/or any designee of the Lender 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.
SECTION 8.08 Certain ERISA Matters.
(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement;
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(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement;
(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement; or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
SECTION 8.09 UK Security Agreements.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each Lender and each Issuing Bank irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent to act as its trustee under and in connection with each UK Security Agreement on the terms and conditions set out in any such UK Security Agreement to hold the assets subject to the security thereby created as trustee for the Lender Parties on the trusts and other terms contained in any such UK Security Agreement. Each of the Lender Parties authorizes the Administrative Agent to exercise the rights, remedies, power and discretions, specifically given to the Administrative Agent under or in respect of the UK Security Agreements, together with any rights, remedies, power and discretions, incidental thereto. In addition, when acting in the capacity of trustee for the Lender Parties, the Administrative Agent shall have all the rights, remedies and benefits of and in favor of the Administrative Agent contained in this Article VIII.
(b) Any reference in this Agreement to Liens stated to be in favor of the Administrative Agent shall be construed so as to include a reference to Liens granted in favor of the Administrative Agent in its capacity as security trustee of the Lender Parties.
(c) Nothing in this Article VIII shall require the Administrative Agent to act as a trustee at common law or to hold any property on trust in any jurisdiction outside the United States or the United Kingdom that may not operate under principles of trust or where such trust would not be recognized or its effects would not be enforceable.
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SECTION 8.10 German and Dutch Security Agreements.
(a) In relation to the German Security Agreements the following additional provisions shall apply:
(i) the Administrative Agent, with respect to the Collateral being subject to the German Security Agreements or any other Secured Obligation created under the German Law, shall: (A) hold, administer and realise such Collateral that is transferred or assigned by way of security (Sicherungseigentum/Sicherungsabtretung) or otherwise granted to it and is creating or evidencing a non-accessory security right (nicht akzessorische Sicherheit) in its own name as trustee (Treuhänder) for the benefit of the Lender Parties; and (B) hold (with regard to its own rights under the Parallel Debt), administer, and realise any such Collateral that is pledged (verpfändet) or otherwise transferred to the Administrative Agent and is creating or evidencing an accessory security right (akzessorische Sicherheit) as agent in the name of and for and on the behalf of the Lender Parties, and in its own name on the basis of the Parallel Debt;
(ii) with respect to the Collateral being subject to the German Security Agreements, each Lender Party hereby authorizes and grants a power of attorney, and each future Lender Party by becoming a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.01 of this Agreement authorizes, and grants a power of attorney (Vollmacht) to the Administrative Agent (whether or not by or through employees or agents) to: (A) accept as its representative (Stellvertreter) any pledge or other creation of any accessory security right granted in favor of such Lender Party in connection with the German Security Agreements and to agree to and execute on its behalf as its representative (Stellvertreter) any amendments and/or alterations to any German Security Agreements or any other agreement related to such Collateral which creates a pledge or any other accessory security right (akzessorische Sicherheit) including the release or confirmation of release of such security; (B) execute on behalf of itself and the Lender Parties where relevant and without the need for any further referral to, or authority from, the Lender Parties or any other person all necessary releases of any such Collateral being subject to the German Security Agreements or any other agreement related to such Collateral; (C) realize such Collateral in accordance with the German Security Agreements or any other agreement securing such Collateral; (D) make, receive all declarations and statements and undertake all other necessary actions and measures which are necessary or desirable in connection with such Collateral or the German Security Agreements or any other agreement securing the Collateral; (E) take such action on its behalf as may from time to time be authorized under or in accordance with the German Security Agreements; and (F) exercise such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are specifically delegated to or conferred upon the Lender Parties under the German Security Agreements together with such powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto;
(iii) each of the Lender Parties agrees that, if the courts of Germany do not recognize or give effect to the trust expressed to be created by this Agreement or any German Security Agreement, the relationship of the Lender Parties to the Administrative Agent shall be construed as one of principal and agent but, to the extent permissible under the laws of Germany, all the other provisions of this Agreement shall have full force and effect between the parties hereto;
(iv) each Lender Party hereby ratifies and approves, and each future Lender Party by becoming a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.01 of this Agreement ratifies and approves, all acts and declarations previously done by the Administrative Agent on such person’s behalf (including for the avoidance of doubt the declarations made by the Administrative Agent as representative without power of attorney (Vertreter ohne Vertretungsmacht) in relation to the creation of any pledge (Pfandrecht) on behalf and for the benefit of each Lender Party as future pledgee or otherwise); and
(v) for the purpose of performing its rights and obligations as Administrative Agent and to make use of any authorization granted under this Agreement and under the German Security Agreements, each Lender Party hereby authorizes, and each future Lender Party by becoming a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.01 of this Agreement authorizes, the Administrative Agent to act as its agent (Stellvertreter), and, to the extent possible, releases the Administrative Agent from any restrictions on representing several persons and self-dealing under any applicable law, and in particular from the restrictions of Section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch). The Administrative Agent has the power to grant sub-power of attorney, including the release from the restrictions of section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch).
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(b) Parallel Debt.
(i) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes (and to the extent necessary undertakes in advance) to pay to the Administrative Agent amounts equal to any amounts owing from time to time by such Loan Party to any Lender Party under this Agreement and any other Loan Document pursuant to any Secured Obligations as and when those amounts are due under any Loan Document (such payment undertakings under this Section 8.10(b) and the obligations and liabilities resulting therefrom being the “Parallel Debt”);
(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have its own independent right to demand payment of the Parallel Debt by the Loan Party. Each Loan Party and the Administrative Agent acknowledge that the obligations of each Loan Party under Section 5.06 are several, separate and independent (selbständiges Schuldanerkenntnis) from, and shall not in any way limit or affect, the corresponding obligations of each Loan Party to any Lender Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “Corresponding Debt”) nor shall the amounts for which each Loan Party are liable under this Section 8.10(b) be limited or affected in any way by its Corresponding Debt provided that: (A) the Parallel Debt shall be decreased to the extent that the Corresponding Debt has been irrevocably paid or discharged (other than, in each case, contingent obligations); (B) the Corresponding Debt shall be decreased to the extent that the Parallel Debt has been irrevocably paid or discharged; (C) the amount of the Parallel Debt shall at all times be equal to the amount of the Corresponding Debt; (D) the Parallel Debt will be payable in the currency or currencies of the Corresponding Debt; and (E) for the avoidance of doubt, the Parallel Debt will become due and payable at the same time when the Corresponding Debt becomes due and payable;
(iii) the security granted under any German Security Agreement and any Dutch Security Agreement with respect to the Parallel Debt is granted to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as sole creditor of the Parallel Debt;
(iv) without limiting or affecting the Administrative Agent’s rights against any Loan Party (whether under this Agreement or any other Loan Document), each Loan Party acknowledges that: (A) in this Agreement shall impose any obligation on the Administrative Agent to advance any sum to any Loan Party or otherwise under any Loan Document; and (B) for the purpose of any vote taken under any Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall not be regarded as having any participation or commitment other that those which it has in its capacity as a Lender;
(v) the Parties to this Agreement acknowledge and confirm that the provisions contained in this Agreement shall not be interpreted so as to increase the maximum total amount of the Obligations;
(vi) the Parallel Debt shall remain effective in case a third person should assume or be entitled, partially or in whole, to any rights of any of the Lender Parties under any Loan Documents, be it by virtue of assignment, assumption or otherwise; and
(vii) all monies received or recovered by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement and all amounts received or recovered by the Administrative Agent from or by the enforcement of any security granted to secure the Parallel Debt shall be applied in accordance with this Agreement.
SECTION 8.11 Swiss Security Agreements.
(a) In relation to Collateral which is subject to a Swiss Security Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall:
(i) hold and administer any such non-accessory Collateral (nicht-akzessorische Sicherheit), governed by Swiss law as fiduciary (treuhänderisch) in its own name but for the benefit of the Lender Parties; and
(ii) hold and administer any accessory Collateral (akzessorische Sicherheit) governed by Swiss law as direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) in the name and on behalf of the Lender Parties.
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(b) Each Lender Party (other than the Administrative Agent) hereby appoints the Administrative Agent as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) and authorizes the Administrative Agent (whether or not by or through employees or agents) to:
(i) exercise such rights, remedies, powers and discretions as are specifically delegated to or conferred upon the Administrative Agent under the relevant Swiss Security Agreements together with such powers and discretions as are reasonably incidental thereto;
(ii) take such action on its behalf as may from time to time be authorized under or in accordance with the relevant Swiss Security Agreements; and
(iii) accept, enter into and execute as its direct representative (direkterStellvertreter) any pledge or other creation of any accessory security right granted in favor of such Lender Party in connection with the Loan Documents under Swiss law and to agree to and execute in its name and on its behalf as its direct representative (direkter Stellvertreter) any amendments, confirmations and/or alterations to any Swiss Security Agreement which creates a pledge or any other accessory security right (akzessorische Sicherheit)including the release or confirmation of release of such Collateral.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01 Notices.
(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone or Electronic Systems (and subject to paragraph (b) of this Section), all notices and other communications provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by electronic transmission, as follows:
| (i) | if to any Loan Party, to the Borrower Representative at: |
|---|
Fossil Group, Inc.
c/o Fossil Group, Inc. (if to another Loan Party)
901 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, Texas 75080
Attention: Randy S. Hyne, Esq.
Facsimile No: 972-498-9615
Email: randyh@fossil.com
And in each case, with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
200 Crescent Court, Suite 300
Dallas, Texas 75201
Attention: Vynessa Nemunaitis
Facsimile No.: 214-746-7777
Email: vynessa.nemunaitis@weil.com
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| (ii) | if to the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank, to Ares at: |
|---|
ACF FINCO I LP
560 White Plains Road, Suite 400
Tarrytown, NY 10591
Attention: Credit Officer/Fossil
Telephone: 914-418-1200
Email: notices@aresmgmt.com
with a copy to:
ACF FINCO I LP 560
White Plains Road, Suite 400
Tarrytown, NY 10591
Attention: Tim Sardinia, Principal
Telephone: 914-418-1229
Email: tsardinia@aresmgmt.com
And in each case, with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP
Two International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attention: Mark Silva & Seth Mennillo
Facsimile No: 617-502-5127 & 617-502-4994
Email: msilva@choate.com & smennillo@choate.com
(iii) if to any other Issuing Bank, to it at its address or electronic transmission address most recently specified by it in a notice delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative; and
(iv) if to any other Lender, to it at its address or electronic transmission address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
All such notices and other communications (i) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received, (ii) sent by electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been given when sent (or, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient) and (iii) delivered through Electronic Systems or Approved Electronic Platforms, as applicable, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) of this Section shall be effective as provided in such paragraph.
(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and Issuing Banks under the Loan Documents may be delivered or furnished by Electronic Systems or Approved Electronic Platforms, as applicable, pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices under Article II to any Lender or Issuing Bank if such Lender or Issuing Bank, 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 Representative (on behalf of the Loan Parties) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it under the Loan Documents by Electronic Systems or Approved Electronic Platforms, as applicable, pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. All such notices and other communications (i) sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) 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 (b)(i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
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(c) Any party hereto may change its address or electronic transmission address for notices and other communications under the Loan Documents by notice to the other parties hereto.
(d) The Borrowers agree that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank by posting the Communications on IntraLinks^TM^, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic system chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).
(e) Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and each Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.
(f) THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. 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 THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.
(g) Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.
(h) Each of the Lenders, Issuing Bank and each Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.
(i) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.
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SECTION 9.02 Waivers; Amendments.
(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(b) Except as provided in Sections 5.16, 9.02(e), 9.02(f) and 9.18 (and, except as specifically provided in any Loan Document with respect to the Schedules thereto), and except for the execution and delivery of the Joinder Agreements, and subject to Section 2.14(c), none of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except (i) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or (ii) in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent (if a party to the original agreement) and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that (A) any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to cure any obvious error, technical error, ambiguity, omission, error or omission that is immaterial in nature, defect or inconsistency so long as, in each case, the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment, (B) any provision of the Agent Fee Letter may be waived, amended or modified by an agreement in writing entered into by the parties thereto, and (C) no such agreement shall (1) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (provided that the Administrative Agent may make Protective Advances and Overadvances as set forth in Section 2.04 or 2.05, as applicable), (2) reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce or forgive any interest or fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (3) postpone any scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any date for the payment of any interest, fees or other Obligations payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (4) change Section 2.18(b) or 2.18(d) in a manner that would alter the manner in which payments are shared, without the written consent of each Lender, (5) (x) increase the advance rates referred to in the definition of, or otherwise modify the definition of, “U.S. Borrowing Base”, “Canadian Borrowing Base”, “European Borrowing Base”, “German Borrowing Base” or “Swiss Borrowing Base” to the extent that any such change results in more credit being made available to the Borrowers based upon the Borrowing Base, (y) add new categories of eligible assets or (z) modify the definition of “Eligible Accounts”, “Eligible Credit Card Accounts Receivable”, “Eligible Finished Goods Inventory” or “Eligible Intellectual Property” or any of the defined terms that are used in such definitions to the extent that any such change results in more credit being made available to the Borrowers based upon the Borrowing Base, but not otherwise, in each case without the written consent of each Lender, (6) change any of the provisions of this Section or the percentage set forth in the definition of the term “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (7) change Section 2.20 without the consent of each Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender) adversely affected thereby, (8) release all or substantially all of the value of the Loan Guarantee (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents), without the written consent of each Lender, (9) except as provided in paragraph (c) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, (x) release all or substantially all of the Collateral, (y) contractually subordinate the Obligations in right of payment to any other Indebtedness for borrowed money or, without limiting Section 9.02(c) or 9.18, contractually subordinate the Liens on all or substantially all of the Collateral securing the Obligations to the Liens on the Collateral securing any other Indebtedness for borrowed money, except in connection with any “debtor in possession” financing (or any similar financing arrangement in an insolvency proceeding in a non-U.S. jurisdiction) (it being understood that this clause (x) shall not override the permission for Liens on the Collateral expressly permitted by this Agreement (as in effect on the Effective Date) to be senior in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations or (z) except as provided in Section 9.18(b) as in effect on the date hereof, modify the definition of the term “ABL Priority
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Collateral” herein or in the Intercreditor Agreement in a manner that would result in the removal of Collateral otherwise constituting ABL Priority Collateral therefrom, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender, (10) waive, amend or modify any of the provisions of Section 5.31, Schedule 5.31 or Section 7.01(d) (solely in respect of Section 5.31) without the written consent of each Lender, (11) modify the definition of “Aggregate Borrowing Base” or “Borrowing Base”, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender, (12) modify the definition of “Successful Exchange Transaction” without the written consent of each Lender, (13) change Section 9.04 to the extent that any such change imposes a restriction on any assignment by a Lender that is permitted as of the Effective Date without the written consent of each Lender, (14) waive, amend or modify any of the provisions of Section 7.01(p) without the written consent of each Lender or (15) waive, amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.04 or Section 2.05 to increase the percentage caps on Protective Advances or Overadvances without the written consent of each Lender; provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.20 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.06 or any letter of credit application and any bilateral agreement between the Borrower Representative and an Issuing Bank regarding the respective rights and obligations between the applicable Borrower and such Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, respectively.
(c) The Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, upon the request of the Company:
(i) to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (A) upon the termination of all the Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Obligations (other than Banking Services Obligations and Unliquidated Obligations) and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit in a manner satisfactory to each applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent, (B) constituting property being sold or disposed of to a Person that is not a Loan Party if the Loan Party disposing of such property certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (including the Updated Borrowing Base Condition if applicable thereto) (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), and to the extent that the property being sold or disposed of constitutes 100% of the Equity Interest of a Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent is authorized to release any Loan Guarantee provided by such Subsidiary, (C) constituting property leased to a Loan Party under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction not prohibited under this Agreement, (D) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII and (E) constituting property of a Loan Party that is being released as a Guarantor (and, in the case of a U.S. Subsidiary Borrower, as a U.S. Subsidiary Borrower) as provided below;
(ii) to release any Loan Guarantee provided by any U.S. Subsidiary Borrower, U.S. Guarantor or Foreign Loan Party (A) that is dissolved pursuant to Section 6.03(a)(iv) in connection with a voluntary liquidation or dissolution thereof permitted by such Section, (B) that is no longer a Subsidiary of the Company as a result of the disposition of all of the outstanding Equity Interests of such Subsidiary of the Company (other than a Borrower) (or the direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary) to a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction permitted by Section 6.05, or (C) upon the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with Section 5.17 and, in connection therewith, to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by such Subsidiary on any Collateral, if the Company certifies to the Administrative Agent that such liquidation or dissolution, disposition or designation is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (including the Updated Borrowing Base Condition if applicable thereto) (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry). The Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby further irrevocably authorize the release of Liens on the Notes Priority Collateral as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement; and
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(iii) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(e).Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.
(d) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender affected thereby”, the consents of Lenders having Credit Exposure and unused Commitments representing more than 66% of the sum of the total Credit Exposure and unused Commitments at such time are obtained, but the consents of other necessary Lenders are not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower Representative may, with the consent of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, elect to replace any Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement; provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) an Eligible Assignee which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of paragraph (b) of Section 9.04, and (ii) the applicable Borrower(s) shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by such Borrowers hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent may, without the consent of any Lender Party, consent to a departure by any Loan Party from any covenant of such Loan Party set forth in this Agreement or in any Collateral Document to the extent such departure is consistent with the authority of the Administrative Agent set forth in the definition of the term “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement”.
(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, in consultation with the Borrower Representative, but without the consent of any Lender Party or Loan Party, amend any of the Loan Documents to modify or add covenants, defaults or other provisions in favor of the Lenders, to the extent corresponding covenants, defaults or other provisions of any of the 2026 Notes Documents or the 2029 Notes Documents are (either initially or after giving effect to any amendment or other modification thereto) more beneficial to the holders of the 2029 Notes than the Lenders as set forth in the Loan Documents. The Borrowers shall cooperate in good faith with the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation of any such amendment and shall acknowledge such amendment in writing if requested by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) The Company shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary U.S. counsel for the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates and one primary U.S. counsel for Great Rock Capital, and if deemed reasonably necessary by the Administrative Agent, one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction (which may include a single firm of counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions), in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through any Electronic System or Approved Electronic Platform) of the credit facility provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of the Loan Documents (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Issuing Bank 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
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by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or 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. Subject to the provisions of Sections 5.09, 5.12 and 5.13, expenses subject to reimbursement by the Borrowers under this Section include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with:
(i) appraisals and insurance reviews;
(ii) field examinations and the preparation of Reports based on the fees charged by a third party retained by the Administrative Agent or the internally allocated fees for each Person employed by the Administrative Agent with respect to each field examination;
(iii) fees and other charges for (A) lien searches and (B) filing financing statements and continuations, and other actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Administrative Agent’s Liens;
(iv) sums paid or incurred to take any action required of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents that such Loan Party fails to pay or take; and
(v) forwarding loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and maintaining the accounts and lock boxes, and costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral.
(b) The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), each Issuing Bank and each Lender, 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, penalties, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an Issuing Bank 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 actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on at, under, to or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the any Loan Party or any of the Subsidiaries, or any other Environmental Liability related in any way to any Loan Party or any of the Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether such proceeding is initiated against or by any party to this Agreement, or any Affiliate thereof, by an Indemnitee or any third party or whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply to any Taxes (other than Other Taxes or any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages or related expenses arising from any non-Tax claim).
(c) Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by any Loan Party under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 9.03 to the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent Indemnitee”) (to the extent not reimbursed by a Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent
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Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent Indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; 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 Indemnitee in its capacity as such; provided, further, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment in full of the Secured Obligations.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet) or (ii) 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 Loan Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 10 days after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04 Successors and Assigns.
(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) no Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by a Loan Party without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. 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 (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the sub-agents of the Administrative Agent and the Related Parties of any of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one 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 at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:
(A) the Borrower Representative; provided that no consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee; provided, further, that the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice thereof; and
(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment by any Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund of such Lender.
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(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or 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) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that no such consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;
(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500;
(D) [reserved];
(E) [reserved]; and
(F) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Company, the Subsidiaries and other Affiliates thereof or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including federal, state, provincial, territorial and foreign securities laws.
(iii) The consent of each Swiss Borrower (and each Swiss Subsidiary) shall be required for any assignment of the rights and obligations in respect of a Commitment or Loans in respect of each Swiss Borrower (and each Swiss Subsidiary) (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, in particular if such assignment does not result in a breach of the Swiss Ten Non-Bank Rule), unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender or a Swiss Qualifying Bank.
(iv) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and 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 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 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 paragraph (c) of this Section.
(v) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and records of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
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(vi) Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, 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 assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05, 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 8.05(c) or 9.03(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.
Notwithstanding any of the forgoing to the contrary, no consent of any Person shall be required for an assignment by a Lender in connection with a sale by such Lender of all or substantially all of its loan portfolio or in connection with a change of control transaction involving such Lender (in each case, whether occurring by way of equity sale, merger or otherwise); provided that, such assignment shall not breach the Swiss Non-Bank Rules.
(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks, sell participations to one or more Eligible Assignees (“Participants”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (C) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under the Loan Documents and (D) the participation does not lead to a breach of the Swiss Non-Bank Rules. 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 the Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant or requires the approval of all the Lenders. The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(e) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(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 paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (x) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (y) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, 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. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) as though it were a Lender.
(ii) Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain records of the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments or Revolving Loans or its other obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment or Revolving Loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
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(e) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, but subject to paragraph (b)(iii) of this Section 9.04, any Lender may assign to one or more special purpose funding vehicles (each, an “SPV”) all or any portion of its funded Loans (without, in the case of Revolving Loans, the corresponding Commitment), without the consent of any Person or the payment of a fee, by execution of a written assignment agreement in a form agreed to by such Lender and such SPV, and may grant any such SPV the option, in such SPV’s sole discretion, to provide the Borrowers all or any part of any Loans that such Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement. Such SPVs shall have all the rights which a Lender making or holding such Loans would have under this Agreement, but no obligations. The Lender making such assignment shall remain liable for all its original obligations under this Agreement, including its Commitment (although the unused portion thereof shall be reduced by the principal amount of any Loans held by an SPV). Notwithstanding such assignment, the Administrative Agent and Borrowers may deliver notices to the Lender making such assignment (as agent for the SPV) and not separately to the SPV unless the Administrative Agent and Borrower Representative are requested in writing by the SPV (or its agent) to deliver such notices separately to it. The Borrowers shall, at the request of any such Lender, execute and deliver to such Person as such Lender may designate, a promissory note in the amount of such Lender’s original promissory note to evidence the Loans of such Lender and related SPV.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, but subject to paragraph (b)(iii) of this Section 9.04, (i) neither any Lender nor any of its Affiliates (each, an “Affiliated Lender Party”) shall be required to comply with this Section 9.04 in connection with any transaction involving any other Affiliated Lender Party or any of its lenders or funding or financing sources, and no Affiliated Lender Party shall have any obligation to disclose any such transaction to any Person and (ii) there shall be no limitation or restriction on (1) the ability of any Affiliated Lender Party to assign or otherwise transfer its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any Commitment, any Loan or any Obligation to any other Affiliated Lender Party or any lender or financing or funding source of any Affiliated Lender Party or (2) any such lender’s or funding or financing source’s ability to assign or otherwise transfer its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any Commitment, any Loan or any Obligation; provided, however, that such Lender shall continue to be liable as a “Lender” under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents unless such other Person complies with the provisions of this Agreement to become a “Lender”.
SECTION 9.05 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any Loan Document is executed and delivered or any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement (other than Banking Services Obligations contingent or indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made) is outstanding and unpaid or any LC Exposure is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.
(a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on 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 Loan 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. 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 which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.
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(b) Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by electronic transmission or other electronic imaging 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 or thereby 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; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept electronic signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent.
SECTION 9.07 Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, each Lender, Issuing Bank and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, but in each instance subject to the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held, and other obligations at any time owing, by the Administrative Agent, such Lender, Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the Secured Obligations held by the Administrative Agent, such Lender, Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent, such Lender, Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.20 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The Administrative Agent or applicable Lender, Issuing Bank or such Affiliate shall notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent of such setoff or application, provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such setoff or application under this Section. The rights of the Administrative Agent, each Lender, Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, such Lender, Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have.
SECTION 9.09 Governing Law: Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
(a) THE LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINING A CONTRARY EXPRESS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISION) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS; PROVIDED THAT APPOINTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS FONDÉ DE POUVOIR IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE VIII SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC.
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(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than any Loan Document governed by non-U.S. law and containing a contrary express jurisdiction provision), or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any (other than any Loan Document governed by non-U.S. law and containing a contrary express jurisdiction provision) brought by it or any of its Affiliates shall be brought, and shall be heard and determined, exclusively in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each party 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 shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than any Loan Document governed by non-U.S. law and containing a contrary express jurisdiction provision) against any Loan Party or any of its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
(e) Each Canadian Loan Party hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Borrower Representative, in the case of any suit, action or proceeding brought in the United States as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Such service may be made by mailing (by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid) or delivering a copy of such process to such Canadian Loan Party in care of the Borrower Representative at the Borrower Representative’s address set forth in Section 9.01, and each such Canadian Loan Party hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Borrower Representative to accept such service on its behalf. As an alternative method of service, each Canadian Loan Party irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process in any such action or proceeding by the mailing (by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid) of copies of such process to the Borrower Representative or such Canadian Loan Party at its address specified in Section 9.01.
SECTION 9.10 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, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT 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 AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11 Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below) with the same degree of care that it uses to protect its own confidential information, but in no event less than a commercially reasonable degree of care, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Related Parties, including accountants, legal counsel and other agents and advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential
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nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable law or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing confidentiality undertakings substantially similar to those of this Section, 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 its Related Parties) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrowers or the Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein, (h) with the consent of the Borrower Representative, or (i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers that is not bound by an obligation of confidentiality; provided that, in the case of clause (c) above, the party disclosing such information shall provide to the Borrower Representative prior written notice of such disclosure to the extent permitted by applicable law (and to the extent commercially feasible under the circumstances) and shall cooperate with the Borrower Representative, at the Borrower Representative’s sole expense, in obtaining a protective order for, or other confidential treatment of, such disclosure, in each case at the Borrower Representative’s sole expense. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrowers relating to the Company or any Subsidiary or their businesses or the Collateral, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrowers and other than information pertaining to this Agreement provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrowers after the Effective Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.12 shall not be deemed to prohibit or limit the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or their respective Affiliates to publish, subject to obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), customary advertising material, including any “tombstone”, press release or comparable advertising, on its website or in other marketing materials, relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement using any Loan Party’s name, product photographs, logo, trademark or other insignia.
EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9.12 FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARIES AND ITS OTHER AFFILIATES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWERS OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY, THE SUBSIDIARIES AND ITS OTHER AFFILIATES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWERS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
SECTION 9.13 Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and the failure of any Lender to make any Loan or perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, neither any Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Borrowers in violation of applicable law.
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SECTION 9.14 USA PATRIOT Act.
(a) Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the Patriot Act hereby notifies the Borrowers and the Guarantors that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers and the Guarantors, which information includes the names and addresses of the Borrowers and the Guarantors and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrowers and the Guarantors in accordance with the Patriot Act.
(b) (i) If (A) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; (B) any change in the status of a UK Loan Party after the date of this Agreement; (C) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer; or (D) any law, regulation, applicable market guidance or internal policy in relation to the period review and/or updating of customer information obliges the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of clause (C) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each UK Loan Party shall promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in clause (C) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Administrative Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in clause (C) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Loan Documents; and (ii) each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent (for itself) in order for the Administrative Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Loan Documents.
SECTION 9.15 Appointment for Perfection. Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC, the PPSA or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession. Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.
SECTION 9.16 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts that are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
SECTION 9.17 No Fiduciary Relationship. Each Loan Party, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, agrees that in connection with all aspects of the transactions contemplated hereby and any communications in connection therewith, the Loan Parties, the Subsidiaries and their other respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and their Affiliates, on the other hand, will have a business relationship that does not create, by implication or otherwise, any fiduciary duty on the part of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or their Affiliates, and no such duty will be deemed to have arisen in connection with any such transactions or communications. The Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and their Affiliates may be engaged, for their own accounts or the accounts of customers, in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties, the Subsidiaries and their other respective Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or their Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such
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interests to the Loan Parties, the Subsidiaries or their other respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Loan Party hereby agrees not to assert any claims against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and their Affiliates based on any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
SECTION 9.18 Intercreditor Agreements.
(a) The Lenders and the Issuing Banks acknowledge that any Other Secured Debt or any Permitted Debt may, to the extent permitted under Section 6.02, be secured by Liens on assets that constitute Collateral and that the relative Lien priority and other creditor rights of the Lender Parties hereunder and the secured parties under such Other Secured Debt or such Permitted Debt will be set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement or another intercreditor agreement reflecting the relative Lien priority required by Section 6.02 (an “Applicable Intercreditor Agreement”). Each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby acknowledges that it has received a copy of the form of Intercreditor Agreement. Each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably (a) consents to the subordination of the Liens on the Notes Priority Collateral securing the Secured Obligations on the terms set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, (b) authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver each Applicable Intercreditor Agreement and any documents relating thereto, in each case on behalf of such Lender or Issuing Bank and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Lender or Issuing Bank, (c) agrees that, upon the execution and delivery thereof, such Lender or Issuing Bank will be bound by the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and each Applicable Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a signatory thereto and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of Intercreditor Agreement and each such Applicable Intercreditor Agreement and (d) agrees that no Lender or Issuing Bank shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of any action taken by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section or in accordance with the terms of Intercreditor Agreement or any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement. Each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby further irrevocably authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent (i) to take such actions as shall be required to release Liens on the Collateral in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) to enter into such amendments, supplements or other modifications to the Intercreditor Agreement or any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement in connection with any incurrence, extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement of any Secured Obligations or any Other Secured Debt or any Permitted Debt as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent to give effect thereto, in each case on behalf of such Lender or Issuing Bank and without any further consent, authorization or other action by such Lender or Issuing Bank, but subject to any consents required pursuant to Section 9.02(b) if applicable. The Administrative Agent shall have the benefit of the provisions of Article VIII with respect to all actions taken by it pursuant to this Section or in accordance with the terms of any Applicable Intercreditor Agreement to the full extent thereof.
(b) The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks acknowledge and agree that, upon the Collateral Designation Date, and at all times thereafter while the Notes Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) remain outstanding and the Intercreditor Agreement is in effect, the Specified Collateral shall be deemed to constitute Notes Priority Collateral instead of ABL Priority Collateral and shall, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, (x) secure such Notes Obligations on a first-priority basis and (y) secure the Secured Obligations on a second-priority basis (at which time, for the avoidance of doubt, the Specified Collateral shall no longer constitute part of any Borrowing Base).
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, prior to the Discharge of Notes Obligations (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), (i) the requirements of this Agreement to deliver Notes Priority Collateral to, or to establish control of Notes Priority Collateral by, the Administrative Agent shall be deemed satisfied by delivery of such Notes Priority Collateral to, or establishment of control (to the extent only one party can have control) of such Notes Priority Collateral by, the Notes Collateral Agent (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) as bailee for the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement; and (ii) no Loan Party shall be required to take or omit to take any action affirmatively required by any of the provisions of any Loan Documents, or requested by the Administrative Agent, with respect to any Notes Priority Collateral if such action or inaction would be irreconcilably inconsistent with (A) any action or inaction affirmatively requested by the Notes Collateral Agent or (B) any action or inaction affirmatively required by any of the provisions of the documentation governing such Other Secured Debt, with respect to such Notes Priority Collateral.
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SECTION 9.19 [Reserved].
SECTION 9.20 Anti-Money Laundering Legislation.
(a) Each Loan Party acknowledges that, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act and other applicable anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing, government sanction and “know your client” laws in each relevant jurisdiction (collectively, including any guidelines or orders thereunder, “AML Legislation”), the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks may be required to obtain, verify and record information regarding the Loan Parties and their respective directors, authorized signing officers and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Loan Party shall promptly provide all such information, including supporting documentation and other evidence, as may be reasonably requested by any Lender or any prospective assignee or participant of a Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, in order to comply with any applicable AML Legislation, whether now or hereafter in existence.
(b) If the Administrative Agent has ascertained the identity of any Loan Party or any authorized signatories of such Loan Party for the purposes of applicable AML Legislation, then the Administrative Agent:
(i) shall be deemed to have done so as an agent for each Issuing Bank and each Lender, and this Agreement shall constitute a “written agreement” in such regard between such Issuing Bank or such Lender and the Administrative Agent within the meaning of the applicable AML Legislation; and
(ii) shall provide to each Issuing Bank and each Lender copies of all information obtained in such regard without any representation or warranty as to its accuracy or completeness.
(c) Notwithstanding the preceding sentence and except as may otherwise be agreed in writing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that the Administrative Agent has no obligation to ascertain the identity of the Loan Parties or any authorized signatories of the Loan Parties on behalf of any Lender or Issuing Bank, or to confirm the completeness or accuracy of any information it obtains from any Loan Party or any such authorized signatory in doing so.
SECTION 9.21 “Know Your Customer” Checks.
(a) If (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; (ii) any change in the status of a Loan Party after the date of this Agreement; or (iii) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer, obliges the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of clause (iii) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Loan Party shall promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in clause (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Administrative Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in clause (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Loan Documents.
(b) Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent (for itself) in order for the Administrative Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Loan Documents.
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SECTION 9.22 Judgment Currency. If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert an amount due hereunder in the currency in which it is due (the “Original Currency”) into another currency (the “Second Currency”), the rate of exchange applied shall be that at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Administrative Agent could purchase the Original Currency with the Second Currency on the date two Business Days preceding that on which judgment is given. Each Loan Party agrees that its obligation in respect of any Original Currency due from it hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment or payment in any Second Currency, be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following the date the Administrative Agent receives payment of any sum so adjudged to be due hereunder in the Second Currency, the Administrative Agent may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase, in the New York foreign exchange market, the Original Currency with the amount of the Second Currency so paid; and if the amount of the Original Currency so purchased, or that could have been so purchased, is less than the amount originally due in the Original Currency after any premium and costs of exchange payable in connection with such purchase, each Loan Party agrees as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such payment or judgment to indemnify the Administrative Agent against such loss.
SECTION 9.23 Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that any Loan Party has, or hereafter may be entitled to claim or may acquire, for itself, any Collateral or other assets of the Loan Parties, any immunity (whether sovereign or otherwise) from suit, jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) with respect to itself, any Collateral or any other assets of the Loan Parties, such Loan Party hereby waives such immunity in respect of its obligations hereunder and under any promissory notes evidencing the Loans hereunder and any other Loan Document to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, agrees that the waivers set forth in this Section shall be effective to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 (as amended, and together with any successor legislation) and are, and are intended to be, irrevocable for purposes thereof.
SECTION 9.24 Limitations of Enforcement against German Loan Parties.
(a) The Lender Parties agree not to enforce any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to Article XIII of this Agreement) under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents if and to the extent that (i) the relevant payment and/or enforcement proceeds are applied in satisfaction of any liabilities (including guarantees, letters of credit or similar instruments) of the respective German Loan Party’s direct or indirect shareholder(s) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder (verbundenes Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (other than the liabilities of any of the respective German Loan Party’s wholly owned subsidiaries and, for the avoidance of doubt, the respective German Loan Party’s own liabilities) and (ii) such payment and/or enforcement under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents would cause the amount of the respective German Loan Party’s net assets (Reinvermögen), as adjusted pursuant to the following provisions, to fall below the amount of its registered share capital (Stammkapital) (Begründung einer Unterbilanz) or to increase any already existing capital impairment (Vertiefung einer Unterbilanz) in violation of sections 30 and 31 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG), (each such event is hereinafter referred to as a “Capital Impairment”). For the purposes of this Section 9.24 net assets (Reinvermögen) “net assets” (Reinvermögen) means the assets calculated on the basis of the balance sheet items listed in sections 266 para. 2 A, B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code (HGB) less all liabilities listed in section 266 para. 3 B, C, D and E of the German Commercial Code (HGB) and less such amounts being subject to a distribution barrier (Ausschüttungssperre) pursuant to section 268 para. 8 of the German Commercial Code (HGB), pursuant to section 253 para. 6 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) or pursuant to section 272 para. 5 of the German Commercial Code (HGB), provided that any deviating specifications made by the Federal High Court (Bundesgerichtshof) for the calculation of the net assets shall be taken into account and that for the purposes of the calculation of the enforceable amount (if any), the following balance sheet items shall be adjusted as follows: (i) the amount of any increase of the respective German Loan Party’s registered share capital after the date of this Agreement that has been effected without prior written consent of the Administrative Agent shall be deducted from the respective German Loan Party’s registered share capital; (ii) loans provided to the respective German Loan Party by any member of the group shall be disregarded if and to the extent such loans are subordinated or are considered subordinated by operation of law and such loans are not shown in the balance sheet as liability of the respective German Loan Party, provided that the creditor of the corresponding receivables could waive such receivables without violating applicable law or any Loan Document; and (iii) loans or other contractual liabilities incurred in violation of the provisions of the Loan Documents shall be disregarded.
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(b) Disposal of Relevant Assets. Provided that an enforcement is limited due to the aforementioned provisions, the respective German Loan Party shall dispose of all assets, to the extent legally permitted and commercially justifiable, which are not necessary for its business (nicht betriebsnotwendig) on market terms where the relevant assets are shown in the balance sheet of the respective German Loan Party with a book value which is significantly lower than the market value of such assets.
(c) Management Notification/Auditor’s Determination. The limitation pursuant to this Section 9.24 shall apply, if following a notice by the Administrative Agent that it intends to enforce any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to Article XIII of this Agreement) under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, the respective German Loan Party notifies the Administrative Agent (“Management Notification”) within ten (10) days upon receipt of the relevant notice that a Capital Impairment would occur (setting out in reasonable detail to what extent a Capital Impairment would occur and providing prima facie evidence that a realization or other measures undertaken in accordance with the mitigation provisions set out above would not prevent such Capital Impairment); if the Management Notification is contested by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall nevertheless be entitled to enforce any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to Article XIII of this Agreement) under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents up to such amount, which is, based on the Management Notification, undisputed between itself and the respective German Loan Party. In relation to the amount which is in dispute, the respective German Loan Party undertakes (at its own cost and expense) to arrange for the preparation of a balance sheet by its auditors in order to have such auditors determine whether (and if so, to what extent) any enforcement of payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, with-out limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to Article XIII of this Agreement) under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents would cause a Capital Impairment (the “Auditor’s Determination”). The Auditor’s Determination shall be prepared, taking into account the adjustments set out above in relation to the calculation of a Capital Impairment, by applying the generally accepted accounting principles applicable from time to time in Germany (Grundsätze ordnungsmäßiger Buchführung) based on the same principles and evaluation methods as consistently applied by the respective German Loan Party in the preparation of its financial statements, in particular in the preparation of its most recent annual balance sheet, and taking into consideration applicable court rulings of German courts. The respective German Loan Party shall provide the Auditor’s Determination to the Administrative Agent within thirty (30) days from the date on which the Administrative Agent contested the Management Notification in writing. The Auditor’s Determination shall be binding on the respective German Loan Party and the Administrative Agent. If, and to the extent that, any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to Article XIII of this Agreement) under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents has been enforced without regard to the limitation set forth in Section 9.24(a) because the amount of the available net assets pursuant to the Auditor’s Determination is lower than the amount stated in the Management Notification, the Administrative Agent shall upon written demand of the respective German Loan Party to the Administrative Agent repay any amount (if and to the extent already paid to the Administrative Agent) up to and including the amount calculated in the Auditor’s Determination as of the date the enforcement of any payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to Article XIII of this Agreement) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document was made. If pursuant to the Auditor’s Determination the amount of the available net assets is higher than set out in the Management Notification, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to enforce into such available net assets accordingly.
(d) Exceptions. Notwithstanding the above, the limitations pursuant to this Section 9.24 shall not apply: (i) if, at the time of the enforcement of payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and the joint and several liability pursuant to Article XIII) hereunder, the limitations set out in Section 9.24(a) are (due to a change in law or applicable court rulings or otherwise) no longer required in order to protect the managing director(s) of the respective German Loan Party from being personally or criminally liable for such obligation according to section 31 of the German Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbH-Gesetz); or (ii) if the respective German Loan Party is party as dominated entity (beherrschtes Unternehmen) of a domination agreement (Beherrschungsvertrag) and/or a profit and loss transfer agreement (Gewinnabführungsvertrag) pursuant to section 30 para 1 sentence 2 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG) (directly or through an unbroken chain of domination and/or profit and loss pooling agreements) with the entity whose liabilities are secured or shall be paid, unless the enforcement of payment claims, any security, any guarantee and/or
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any joint and several liability (including, without limitation, the guarantee and joint and the several liability pursuant to Article XIII of this Agreement) hereunder or under the other Loan Documents would cause of violation of sections 30, 31 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG); or (iii) if the respective German Loan Party has a recourse right (Rückgriffsanspruch) pursuant to section 30 para 1 sentence 2 of the German Limited Liability Company Act (GmbHG), towards its direct or indirect shareholder(s) (upstream) or any entity affiliated to such shareholder (verbundenes Unternehmen) within the meaning of section 15 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) (cross-stream) whose liabilities are secured or shall be paid which is fully recoverable (werthaltig); or (iv) for so long as the respective German Loan Party fails to deliver the Management Notification and/or the Auditor’s Determination pursuant to Section 9.24(c); or (v) to any amounts borrowed under the Loan Documents to the extent the proceeds of such borrowing are on-lent to the respective German Loan Party or its Subsidiaries to the extent that any amounts so on-lent are still outstanding at the time the relevant demand is made against the respective German Loan Party and the repayment of such loans as a result of such on-lending is not prohibited by the Loan Documents or by operation of law; or (vi) if insolvency proceedings have been opened in relation to such German Loan Party and the federal court of justice in Germany (Bundesgerichtshof) has determined that any enforcement of up-stream or cross-stream security and consequential payments no longer cause any personal liability of any managing director of such German Loan Party.
SECTION 9.25 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan 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 Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent entity, 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 Loan 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.
SECTION 9.26 Acknowledgment Regarding any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements 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 Loan 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):
(a) 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
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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 Loan 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 Loan 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.
SECTION 9.27 Data Protection Laws. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to provide information of any kind in violation of any applicable data protection laws in force in the jurisdiction of organization of the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable.
ARTICLE X
U.S. Loan Guarantee
SECTION 10.01 Guarantee. Each U.S. Guarantor hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the other Lender Parties the prompt payment and performance when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all reasonable and documented costs and expenses including, without limitation, all court costs and attorneys’ fees and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, any Borrower, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, being collectively called the “U.S. Guaranteed Obligations”). Each U.S. Guarantor further agrees that the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this U.S. Guarantee apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender or Issuing Bank that extended any portion of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 10.02 Guarantee of Payment. This U.S. Guarantee is a Guarantee of payment and not of collection. Each U.S. Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to require the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other Lender Party to sue any Borrower, any other Guarantor, or any other Person obligated for all or any part of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations (each, a “U.S. Obligated Party”), or to enforce its rights against any collateral securing all or any part of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 10.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of U.S. Guarantee.
(a) Except as otherwise provided for herein, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each U.S. Guarantor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration, or compromise of any of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Borrower or any other guarantor of or other Person liable for any of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding affecting any U.S. Obligated Party or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any U.S. Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other right which any U.S. Guarantor may have at any time against any U.S. Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender, or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transaction.
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(b) The obligations of each U.S. Guarantor hereunder, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability of any of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any U.S. Obligated Party, of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.
(c) Further, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of any U.S. Guarantor hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other Lender Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of any Borrower for all or any part of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other guarantor of or other Person liable for any of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other Lender Party with respect to any collateral securing any part of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such U.S. Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any U.S. Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations).
SECTION 10.04 Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each U.S. Guarantor hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Borrower or the unenforceability of all or any part of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Borrower, other than the payment in full in cash of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each U.S. Guarantor irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any U.S. Obligated Party or any other Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each U.S. Guarantor confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any U.S. Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any U.S. Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such U.S. Guarantor under this U.S. Guarantee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, except to the extent the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations have been fully and paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each U.S. Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any U.S. Guarantor against any U.S. Obligated Party or any security.
SECTION 10.05 Rights of Subrogation. No U.S. Guarantor will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification that it has against any U.S. Obligated Party, or any Collateral, until the Loan Parties have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders and the other Lender Parties.
SECTION 10.06 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or avoided or must otherwise be restored or returned upon or in connection with the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise, each U.S. Guarantor’s obligations under this U.S. Guarantee with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders or the other Lender Parties are in possession of this U.S. Guarantee. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the U.S. Guarantors forthwith on demand by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 10.07 Information. Each U.S. Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrowers’ financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each U.S. Guarantor assumes and incurs under this U.S. Guarantee, and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender shall have any duty to advise any U.S. Loan Party of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.
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SECTION 10.08 [Reserved].
SECTION 10.09 Maximum U.S. Liability. The provisions of this U.S. Guarantee are severable, and in any action or case or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, any other Insolvency Law or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any U.S. Guarantor under this U.S. Guarantee would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such U.S. Guarantor’s liability under this U.S. Guarantee, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this U.S. Guarantee to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the U.S. Guarantors or the Lenders, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or case or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant U.S. Guarantor’s “Maximum U.S. Liability”). This Section with respect to the Maximum U.S. Liability of each U.S. Guarantor is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no U.S. Guarantor nor any other Person or entity shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum U.S. Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any U.S. Guarantor hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law. Each U.S. Guarantor agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum U.S. Liability of each U.S. Guarantor without impairing this U.S. Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies of the Lenders hereunder; provided that nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any U.S. Guarantor’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum U.S. Liability.
SECTION 10.10 Contribution. In the event any U.S. Guarantor (a “Paying U.S. Loan Party”) shall make any payment or payments under this U.S. Guarantee or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this U.S. Guarantee, each other U.S. Guarantor (each, a “Non-Paying U.S. Loan Party”) shall contribute to such Paying U.S. Loan Party an amount equal to such Non-Paying U.S. Loan Party’s Applicable Share of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying U.S. Loan Party. For purposes of this Section, each Non-Paying U.S. Loan Party’s “Applicable Share”, with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying U.S. Loan Party, shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (a) such Non-Paying U.S. Loan Party’s Maximum U.S. Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying U.S. Loan Party’s Maximum U.S. Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying U.S. Loan Party from the Borrowers after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (b) the aggregate Maximum U.S. Liability of all U.S. Guarantors hereunder (including such Paying U.S. Loan Party) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum U.S. Liability has not been determined for any U.S. Guarantor, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such U.S. Guarantors from the Borrowers after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means). Nothing in this provision shall affect any U.S. Guarantor’s several liability for the entire amount of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations (up to such U.S. Loan Party’s Maximum U.S. Liability). Each of the U.S. Guarantors covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this U.S. Guarantee from a Non-Paying U.S. Loan Party shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the U.S. Guaranteed Obligations. This provision is for the benefit of both the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders and the U.S. Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.
SECTION 10.11 Liability Cumulative. The liability of each U.S. Guarantor under this Article X is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all other liabilities of each U.S. Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such U.S. Guarantor is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other U.S. Guarantors, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.
SECTION 10.12 Benefit to U.S. Guarantors. Each U.S. Guarantor represents and warrants to the Lenders that it expects to derive benefit (and its board of directors or other governing body has determined that it may reasonably be expected to derive benefit), directly and indirectly, from (i) successful operations of each of the Company and
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its Subsidiaries and (ii) the credit extended by the Lenders to the Borrowers hereunder. Each U.S. Guarantor has determined that execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement with respect to the U.S. Guarantee and any other Loan Documents to be executed by such U.S. Guarantor is within its purpose, will be of direct and indirect benefit to such U.S. Guarantor, and is in its best interest.
ARTICLE XI
Canadian Loan Guaranty
SECTION 11.01 Guarantee. Each Canadian Loan Party hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Lenders, the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, all court costs and attorneys’ fees and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, any Borrower, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively, the “Canadian Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Canadian Guarantor further agrees that the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this Canadian Guarantee apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender or Issuing Bank that extended any portion of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 11.02 Guarantee of Payment. This Canadian Guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Canadian Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to require the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (each, a “Canadian Obligated Party”) to sue any Canadian Borrower, any Canadian Guarantor, any other guarantor, or any other Person obligated for all or any part of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations, or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations. In addition, as an original and independent obligation under this Canadian Guarantee, each Canadian Loan Party shall:
(a) indemnify each Canadian Obligated Party and its successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns and keep the Canadian Obligated Parties indemnified against all costs, losses, expenses and liabilities of whatever kind resulting from the failure by the Canadian Loan Parties or any of them, to make due and punctual payment of any of the Secured Obligations or resulting from any of the Secured Obligations being or becoming void, voidable, unenforceable or ineffective against any Canadian Loan Party (including, but without limitation, all legal and other costs, charges and expenses incurred by each Canadian Obligated Party, or any of them, in connection with preserving or enforcing, or attempting to preserve or enforce, its rights under this Canadian Guarantee); and
(b) pay on demand the amount of such costs, losses, expenses and liabilities whether or not any of the Canadian Obligated Parties has attempted to enforce any rights against any Canadian Loan Party with respect to the Secured Obligations.
SECTION 11.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of Canadian Guarantee.
(a) Except as otherwise provided for herein, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each Canadian Loan Party hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Canadian Borrower or any other Canadian Obligated Party liable for any of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding affecting any Canadian Obligated Party or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Canadian Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any Canadian Loan Party may have at any time against any Canadian Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.
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(b) The obligations of each Canadian Loan Party hereunder, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any Canadian Obligated Party, of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.
(c) Further, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of any Canadian Loan Party hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of the Canadian Borrowers for all or any part of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other Canadian Obligated Party liable for any of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Canadian Loan Party or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Canadian Loan Party as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations).
SECTION 11.04 Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Canadian Loan Party hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Canadian Loan Party or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Canadian Loan Party, other than the payment in full in cash of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Canadian Loan Party irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any Canadian Obligated Party, or any other Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Canadian Loan Party confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on, or otherwise enforce against, any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Canadian Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any Canadian Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Canadian Guarantor under this Canadian Guarantee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, except to the extent the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations have been fully paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Canadian Loan Party waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Canadian Loan Party against any Canadian Obligated Party or any security.
SECTION 11.05 Rights of Subrogation. No Canadian Loan Party will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification, that it has against any Canadian Obligated Party, or any Collateral, until the Canadian Loan Parties have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.
SECTION 11.06 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or avoided or must otherwise be restored or returned upon or in connection with the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Canadian Loan Party or otherwise, each Canadian Loan Party’s obligations under this Canadian Guarantee with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders are in possession of this Canadian Guarantee. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Canadian
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Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Canadian Loan Party, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Canadian Loan Parties promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 11.07 Information. Each Canadian Loan Party assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the other Canadian Loan Party’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Canadian Loan Party assumes and incurs under this Canadian Guarantee, and agrees that neither the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Canadian Loan Party of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.
SECTION 11.08 Maximum Canadian Liability. In any action or case or proceeding involving any corporate law, or any provincial, territorial, state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or any other Insolvency Law or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Canadian Loan Party under this Canadian Guarantee would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Canadian Loan Party’s liability under this Canadian Guarantee, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Canadian Guarantee to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Canadian Guarantors or the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or case or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Canadian Loan Party’s “Maximum Canadian Liability”. This Section with respect to the Maximum Canadian Liability of each Canadian Loan Party is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Canadian Loan Party nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum Canadian Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any Canadian Loan Party hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law. Each Canadian Loan Party agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Canadian Liability of each Canadian Loan Party without impairing this Canadian Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Canadian Loan Party’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Canadian Liability.
SECTION 11.09 Contribution. In the event any Canadian Loan Party (a “Paying Canadian Loan Party”) shall make any payment or payments under this Canadian Guarantee or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this Canadian Guarantee, each other Canadian Loan Party (each, a “Non-Paying Canadian Loan Party”) shall contribute to such Paying Canadian Loan Party an amount equal to such Non-Paying Canadian Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying Canadian Loan Party. For purposes of this Article XI, each Non-Paying Canadian Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying Canadian Loan Party shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (i) such Non-Paying Canadian Loan Party’s Maximum Canadian Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying Canadian Loan Party’s Maximum Canadian Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying Canadian Loan Party from the other Canadian Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum Canadian Liability of all Canadian Loan Parties hereunder (including such Paying Canadian Loan Party) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum Canadian Liability has not been determined for any Canadian Loan Party, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Canadian Loan Parties from the other Canadian Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means). Nothing in this provision shall affect any Canadian Loan Party’s several liability for the entire amount of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations (up to such Canadian Loan Party’s Maximum Canadian Liability). Each of the Canadian Loan Parties covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this Canadian Guarantee from a Non-Paying Canadian Loan Party shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the Canadian Guaranteed Obligations. This provision is for the benefit of all of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders and the Canadian Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.
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SECTION 11.10 Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Canadian Loan Party under this Article XI is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Canadian Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Canadian Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Canadian Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.
ARTICLE XII
Dutch Loan Guaranty
SECTION 12.01 Guarantee. Each Dutch Loan Party hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Lenders, the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, all court costs and attorneys’ fees and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, any Borrower, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively, the “Dutch Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Dutch Guarantor further agrees that the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this Dutch Guarantee apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender or Issuing Bank that extended any portion of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 12.02 Guarantee of Payment. This Dutch Guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Dutch Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to require the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (each, a “Dutch Obligated Party”) to sue any Dutch Guarantor, any other guarantor, or any other Person obligated for all or any part of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations, or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations. In addition, as an original and independent obligation under this Dutch Guarantee, each Dutch Loan Party shall:
(a) indemnify each Dutch Obligated Party and its successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns and keep the Dutch Obligated Parties indemnified against all costs, losses, expenses and liabilities of whatever kind resulting from the failure by the Dutch Loan Parties or any of them, to make due and punctual payment of any of the Secured Obligations or resulting from any of the Secured Obligations being or becoming void, voidable, unenforceable or ineffective against any Dutch Loan Party (including, but without limitation, all legal and other costs, charges and expenses incurred by each Dutch Obligated Party, or any of them, in connection with preserving or enforcing, or attempting to preserve or enforce, its rights under this Dutch Guarantee); and
(b) pay on demand the amount of such costs, losses, expenses and liabilities whether or not any of the Dutch Obligated Parties has attempted to enforce any rights against any Dutch Loan Party with respect to the Secured Obligations.
SECTION 12.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of Dutch Guarantee.
(a) Except as otherwise provided for herein, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each Dutch Loan Party hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Dutch Obligated Party liable for any of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding affecting any Dutch Obligated Party or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Dutch Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any Dutch Loan Party may have at any time against any Dutch Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.
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(b) The obligations of each Dutch Loan Party hereunder, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any Dutch Obligated Party, of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.
(c) Further, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of any Dutch Loan Party hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of the Dutch Loan Parties for all or any part of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other Dutch Obligated Party liable for any of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Dutch Loan Party or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Dutch Loan Party as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations).
SECTION 12.04 Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Dutch Loan Party hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Dutch Loan Party or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Dutch Loan Party, other than the payment in full in cash of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Dutch Loan Party irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any Dutch Obligated Party, or any other Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Dutch Loan Party confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on, or otherwise enforce against, any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Dutch Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any Dutch Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Dutch Guarantor under this Dutch Guarantee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, except to the extent the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations have been fully paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Dutch Loan Party waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Dutch Loan Party against any Dutch Obligated Party or any security.
SECTION 12.05 Rights of Subrogation. No Dutch Loan Party will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification, that it has against any Dutch Obligated Party, or any Collateral, until the Dutch Loan Parties have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.
SECTION 12.06 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or avoided or must otherwise be restored or returned upon or in connection with the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Dutch Loan Party or otherwise, each Dutch Loan Party’s obligations under this Dutch Guarantee with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders are in possession of this Dutch Guarantee. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Dutch Loan Party, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Dutch Loan Parties promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent.
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SECTION 12.07 Information. Each Dutch Loan Party assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the other Dutch Loan Party’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Dutch Loan Party assumes and incurs under this Dutch Guarantee, and agrees that neither the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Dutch Loan Party of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.
SECTION 12.08 Maximum Dutch Liability. In any action or case or proceeding involving any corporate law, or any provincial, territorial, state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or any other Insolvency Law or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Dutch Loan Party under this Dutch Guarantee would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Dutch Loan Party’s liability under this Dutch Guarantee, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Dutch Guarantee to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Dutch Guarantors or the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or case or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Dutch Loan Party’s “Maximum Dutch Liability”. This Section with respect to the Maximum Dutch Liability of each Dutch Loan Party is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Dutch Loan Party nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum Dutch Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any Dutch Loan Party hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law. Each Dutch Loan Party agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Dutch Liability of each Dutch Loan Party without impairing this Dutch Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Dutch Loan Party’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Dutch Liability.
SECTION 12.09 Contribution. In the event any Dutch Loan Party (a “Paying Dutch Loan Party”) shall make any payment or payments under this Dutch Guarantee or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this Dutch Guarantee, each other Dutch Loan Party (each, a “Non-Paying Dutch Loan Party”) shall contribute to such Paying Dutch Loan Party an amount equal to such Non-Paying Dutch Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying Dutch Loan Party. For purposes of this Article XIII, each Non-Paying Dutch Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying Dutch Loan Party shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (i) such Non-Paying Dutch Loan Party’s Maximum Dutch Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying Dutch Loan Party’s Maximum Dutch Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying Dutch Loan Party from the other Dutch Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum Dutch Liability of all Dutch Loan Parties hereunder (including such Paying Dutch Loan Party) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum Dutch Liability has not been determined for any Dutch Loan Party, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Dutch Loan Parties from the other Dutch Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means). Nothing in this provision shall affect any Dutch Loan Party’s several liability for the entire amount of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations (up to such Dutch Loan Party’s Maximum Dutch Liability). Each of the Dutch Loan Parties covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this Dutch Guarantee from a Non-Paying Dutch Loan Party shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the Dutch Guaranteed Obligations. This provision is for the benefit of all of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders and the Dutch Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.
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SECTION 12.10 Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Dutch Loan Party under this Article XIII is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Dutch Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Dutch Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Dutch Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.
ARTICLE XIII
German Loan Guaranty
SECTION 13.01 Guarantee. Each German Loan Party hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Lenders, the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, all court costs and attorneys’ fees and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, any Borrower, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively, the “German Guaranteed Obligations”). Each German Guarantor further agrees that the German Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this German Guarantee apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender or Issuing Bank that extended any portion of the German Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 13.02 Guarantee of Payment. This German Guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each German Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to require the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (each, a “German Obligated Party”) to sue any German Borrower, any German Guarantor, any other guarantor, or any other Person obligated for all or any part of the German Guaranteed Obligations, or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the German Guaranteed Obligations. In addition, as an original and independent obligation under this German Guarantee, each German Loan Party shall:
(a) indemnify each German Obligated Party and its successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns and keep the German Obligated Parties indemnified against all costs, losses, expenses and liabilities of whatever kind resulting from the failure by the German Loan Parties or any of them, to make due and punctual payment of any of the Secured Obligations or resulting from any of the Secured Obligations being or becoming void, voidable, unenforceable or ineffective against any German Loan Party (including, but without limitation, all legal and other costs, charges and expenses incurred by each German Obligated Party, or any of them, in connection with preserving or enforcing, or attempting to preserve or enforce, its rights under this German Guarantee); and
(b) pay on demand the amount of such costs, losses, expenses and liabilities whether or not any of the German Obligated Parties has attempted to enforce any rights against any German Loan Party with respect to the Secured Obligations.
SECTION 13.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of German Guarantee.
(a) Except as otherwise provided for herein, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each German Loan Party hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the German Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the German Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any German Borrower or any other German Obligated Party liable for any of the German Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding affecting any German Obligated Party or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any German Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any German Loan Party may have at any time against any German Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.
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(b) The obligations of each German Loan Party hereunder, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the German Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any German Obligated Party, of the German Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.
(c) Further, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of any German Loan Party hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the German Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the German Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of the German Borrowers for all or any part of the German Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other German Obligated Party liable for any of the German Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the German Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the German Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such German Loan Party or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any German Loan Party as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of the German Guaranteed Obligations).
SECTION 13.04 Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each German Loan Party hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any German Loan Party or the unenforceability of all or any part of the German Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any German Loan Party, other than the payment in full in cash of the German Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each German Loan Party irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any German Obligated Party, or any other Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each German Loan Party confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on, or otherwise enforce against, any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the German Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the German Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any German Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any German Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such German Guarantor under this German Guarantee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, except to the extent the German Guaranteed Obligations have been fully paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each German Loan Party waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any German Loan Party against any German Obligated Party or any security.
SECTION 13.05 Rights of Subrogation. No German Loan Party will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification, that it has against any German Obligated Party, or any Collateral, until the German Loan Parties have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.
SECTION 13.06 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the German Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or avoided or must otherwise be restored or returned upon or in connection with the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any German Loan Party or otherwise, each German Loan Party’s obligations under this German Guarantee with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders are in possession of this German Guarantee. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the German Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any German Loan Party, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the German Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the German Loan Parties promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent.
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SECTION 13.07 Information. Each German Loan Party assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the other German Loan Party’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the German Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each German Loan Party assumes and incurs under this German Guarantee, and agrees that neither the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall have any duty to advise any German Loan Party of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.
SECTION 13.08 Maximum German Liability. In any action or case or proceeding involving any corporate law, or any provincial, territorial, state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or any other Insolvency Law or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any German Loan Party under this German Guarantee would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such German Loan Party’s liability under this German Guarantee, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this German Guarantee to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the German Guarantors or the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or case or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant German Loan Party’s “Maximum German Liability”. This Section with respect to the Maximum German Liability of each German Loan Party is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no German Loan Party nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum German Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any German Loan Party hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law. Each German Loan Party agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the German Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum German Liability of each German Loan Party without impairing this German Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any German Loan Party’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum German Liability.
SECTION 13.09 Contribution. In the event any German Loan Party (a “Paying German Loan Party”) shall make any payment or payments under this German Guarantee or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this German Guarantee, each other German Loan Party (each, a “Non-Paying German Loan Party”) shall contribute to such Paying German Loan Party an amount equal to such Non-Paying German Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying German Loan Party. For purposes of this Article XIII, each Non-Paying German Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying German Loan Party shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (i) such Non-Paying German Loan Party’s Maximum German Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying German Loan Party’s Maximum German Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying German Loan Party from the other German Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum German Liability of all German Loan Parties hereunder (including such Paying German Loan Party) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum German Liability has not been determined for any German Loan Party, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such German Loan Parties from the other German Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means). Nothing in this provision shall affect any German Loan Party’s several liability for the entire amount of the German Guaranteed Obligations (up to such German Loan Party’s Maximum German Liability). Each of the German Loan Parties covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this German Guarantee from a Non-Paying German Loan Party shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the German Guaranteed Obligations. This provision is for the benefit of all of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders and the German Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.
SECTION 13.10 Liability Cumulative. The liability of each German Loan Party under this Article XIII is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each German Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such German Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other German Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.
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ARTICLE XIV
[Reserved]
ARTICLE XV
Swiss Loan Guaranty
SECTION 15.01 Guarantee. Each Swiss Loan Party hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Lenders, the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, all court costs and attorneys’ fees and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, the Borrowers, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively, the “Swiss Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Swiss Guarantor further agrees that the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this Swiss Guarantee apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender or Issuing Bank that extended any portion of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations. In any event and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XV, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, prior to the Swiss business day after the date of publication printed on the issue of the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce in which it is published that Fossil Switzerland has amended its articles of association in accordance with Section 5.25, the term “Swiss Guaranteed Obligations” shall, in respect of Fossil Switzerland, be read as to exclusively refer to the obligations of Fossil Switzerland and its subsidiaries.
SECTION 15.02 Guarantee of Payment. This Swiss Guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Swiss Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to require the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (each, a “Swiss Obligated Party”) to sue the Swiss Borrowers, any Swiss Guarantor, any other guarantor, or any other Person obligated for all or any part of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations, or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations. In addition, as an original and independent obligation under this Swiss Guarantee, each Swiss Loan Party shall:
(a) indemnify each Swiss Obligated Party and its successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns and keep the Swiss Obligated Parties indemnified against all costs, losses, expenses and liabilities of whatever kind resulting from the failure by the Swiss Loan Parties or any of them, to make due and punctual payment of any of the Secured Obligations or resulting from any of the Secured Obligations being or becoming void, voidable, unenforceable or ineffective against any Swiss Loan Party (including, but without limitation, all legal and other costs, charges and expenses incurred by each Swiss Obligated Party, or any of them, in connection with preserving or enforcing, or attempting to preserve or enforce, its rights under this Swiss Guarantee); and
(b) pay on demand the amount of such costs, losses, expenses and liabilities whether or not any of the Swiss Obligated Parties has attempted to enforce any rights against any Swiss Loan Party with respect to the Secured Obligations.
SECTION 15.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of Swiss Guarantee.
(a) Except as otherwise provided for herein, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each Swiss Loan Party hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration or compromise of any
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of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Swiss Borrower or any other Swiss Obligated Party liable for any of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding affecting any Swiss Obligated Party or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Swiss Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any Swiss Loan Party may have at any time against any Swiss Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.
(b) The obligations of each Swiss Loan Party hereunder are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any Swiss Obligated Party, of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.
(c) Further, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of any Swiss Loan Party hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of any Swiss Borrower for all or any part of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other Swiss Obligated Party liable for any of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Swiss Loan Party or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Swiss Loan Party as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations).
SECTION 15.04 Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Swiss Loan Party hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Swiss Loan Party or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Swiss Loan Party, other than the payment in full in cash of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Swiss Loan Party irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any Swiss Obligated Party, or any other Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Swiss Loan Party confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on, or otherwise enforce against, any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Swiss Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any Swiss Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Swiss Guarantor under this Swiss Guarantee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, except to the extent the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations have been fully paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Swiss Loan Party waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Swiss Loan Party against any Swiss Obligated Party or any security.
SECTION 15.05 Rights of Subrogation. No Swiss Loan Party will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification, that it has against any Swiss Obligated Party, or any Collateral, until the Swiss Loan Parties have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.
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SECTION 15.06 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or avoided or must otherwise be restored or returned upon or in connection with the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Swiss Loan Party or otherwise, each Swiss Loan Party’s obligations under this Swiss Guarantee with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders are in possession of this Swiss Guarantee. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Swiss Loan Party, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Swiss Loan Parties promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 15.07 Information. Each Swiss Loan Party assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the other Swiss Loan Party’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Swiss Loan Party assumes and incurs under this Swiss Guarantee, and agrees that neither the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Swiss Loan Party of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.
SECTION 15.08 Maximum Swiss Liability. In any action or case or proceeding involving any corporate law, or any provincial, territorial, state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, any other Insolvency Law or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Swiss Loan Party under this Swiss Guarantee would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Swiss Loan Party’s liability under this Swiss Guarantee, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Swiss Guarantee to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Swiss Guarantors or the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Swiss Loan Party’s “Maximum Swiss Liability”. This Section with respect to the Maximum Swiss Liability of each Swiss Loan Party is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Swiss Loan Party nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum Swiss Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any Swiss Loan Party hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law. Each Swiss Loan Party agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Swiss Liability of each Swiss Loan Party without impairing this Swiss Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Swiss Loan Party’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Swiss Liability.
SECTION 15.09 Contribution. In the event any Swiss Loan Party (a “Paying Swiss Loan Party”) shall make any payment or payments under this Swiss Guarantee or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this Swiss Guarantee, each other Swiss Loan Party (each, a “Non-Paying Swiss Loan Party”) shall contribute to such Paying Swiss Loan Party an amount equal to such Non-Paying Swiss Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying Swiss Loan Party. For purposes of this Article XV, each Non-Paying Swiss Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying Swiss Loan Party shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (i) such Non-Paying Swiss Loan Party’s Maximum Swiss Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying Swiss Loan Party’s Maximum Swiss Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying Swiss Loan Party from the other Swiss Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum Swiss Liability of all Swiss Loan Parties hereunder (including such Paying Swiss Loan Party) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum Swiss Liability has not been determined for any Swiss Loan Party, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Swiss Loan Parties from the other Swiss Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means). Nothing in this provision shall affect any Swiss Loan Party’s several liability for the entire amount of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations (up to such Swiss Loan Party’s Maximum Swiss Liability). Each of the Swiss Loan Parties covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this Swiss Guarantee from a Non-Paying Swiss Loan Party shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the Swiss Guaranteed Obligations. This provision is for the benefit of all of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders and the Swiss Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.
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SECTION 15.10 Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Swiss Loan Party under this Article XV is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Swiss Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Swiss Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Swiss Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.
SECTION 15.11 Swiss Limitation.
(a) The Swiss Guaranteed Obligations and any other obligation of any Swiss Loan Party under any Loan Document (the “Swiss Guarantor Obligations”) shall be subject to the following limitations:
(i) If and to the extent that a Swiss Guarantor Obligation guarantees or otherwise secures obligations other than obligations of one of the relevant Swiss Loan Parties’ direct or indirect Subsidiaries (i.e. obligations of its respective direct or indirect parent companies (up-stream liabilities) or sister companies (cross-stream liabilities)) (the “Restricted Obligations”) and that performing the relevant Swiss Guarantor Obligation with respect to Restricted Obligations would not be permitted under Swiss corporate law then applicable, then such obligations and payment amount shall from time to time be limited to the amount permitted to be paid under applicable Swiss law; provided that such limited amount shall at no time be less than the relevant Swiss Loan Party’s distributable capital (presently being the balance sheet profits and any reserves available for distribution) at the time or times performance of the relevant Swiss Guarantor Obligation is due or requested from such Swiss Loan Party, and further provided that such limitation (as may apply from time to time or not) shall not (generally or definitively) release the relevant Swiss Loan Party from its Swiss Guarantor Obligations in excess thereof, but merely postpone the payment date therefore until such times as payment is again permitted notwithstanding such limitation.
(ii) In case a Swiss Loan Party who must make a payment in respect of Restricted Obligations under this Agreement is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in respect of such payment, such Swiss Loan Party shall:
(A) procure that such payments can be made without deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax, or with deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax at a reduced rate, by discharging the liability to such tax by notification pursuant to applicable law (including double tax treaties) rather than payment of the tax;
(B) if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (A) above does not apply, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the rate of 35 per cent. (or such other rate as in force from time to time), or if the notification procedure pursuant to sub-paragraph (A) above applies for a part of the Swiss Withholding Tax only, deduct Swiss Withholding Tax at the reduced rate resulting after the discharge of part of such tax by notification under applicable law, from any payment made by it in respect of Restricted Obligations and promptly pay any such taxes to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (Eidgenössische Steuerverwaltung);
(C) notify the Administrative Agent that such notification, or as the case may be, deduction has been made and provide the Administrative Agent with evidence that such a notification of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration has been made or, as the case may be, such taxes deducted have been paid to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration;
(D) in the case of a deduction of Swiss Withholding Tax:
(1) use its best efforts to ensure that any person other than a Lender Party, which is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment in respect of Restricted Obligations, will, as soon as possible after such deduction (y) request a refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax under applicable law (including tax treaties) and (z) pay to the Administrative Agent upon receipt any amounts so refunded; and
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(2) if a Lender Party is entitled to a full or partial refund of the Swiss Withholding Tax deducted from such payment, and if requested by the Administrative Agent, shall provide the Administrative Agent (on its behalf or on behalf of any Lender Party) those documents that are required by law and applicable tax treaties to be provided by the payer of such tax, for each relevant Lender Party, to prepare a claim for refund of Swiss Withholding Tax.
(iii) If a Swiss Loan Party is obliged to withhold Swiss Withholding Tax in accordance with Section 15.11(a)(ii) above, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to further enforce the Swiss Guarantor Obligation assumed by such Swiss Loan Party and apply proceeds therefrom against the Restricted Obligations up to an amount which is equal to that amount which would have been obtained if no withholding of Swiss Withholding Tax were required, whereby such further enforcements shall always be limited to the maximum amount of the freely distributable reserves of such Swiss Guarantor as set out in Section 15.11(a)(i) above. However, the Swiss Guarantor shall not be obliged to gross-up or indemnify (or otherwise hold harmless) a Lender Party (other than pursuant to Section 2.13(o)) in relation to any deduction and payment to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration of Swiss Withholding Tax in accordance with Section 15.11(a)(ii) above if such gross-up or indemnification is illegal. In case the proceeds irrevocably received by the Administrative Agent and the other Lender Parties pursuant to Section 15.11(a)(ii)(D)(2) (refund) above and this paragraph (additional enforcements) have the effect that the proceeds received by the Administrative Agent and the other Lender Parties exceed the Secured Obligations, then the Administrative Agent or the relevant other Lender Party shall return such overcompensation to the relevant Swiss Loan Party.
(iv) For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 15.11(a) shall not limit a Swiss Loan Party’s obligations under Section 2.13(o).
(b) If and to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent and if and to the extent this is from time to time required under Swiss law (restricting profit distributions), in order to allow the Administrative Agent and the other Lender Parties to obtain a maximum benefit under this Agreement and any other Loan Document, as applicable, the relevant Swiss Loan Party shall, and any parent company of such Swiss Loan Party being a party to this Agreement shall procure that such Swiss Loan Party will, promptly implement all such measures and/or to promptly procure the fulfilment of all prerequisites allowing the prompt fulfilment of the Swiss Guarantor Obligations and allowing the relevant Swiss Loan Party to promptly perform its obligations and make the (requested) payment(s) hereunder from time to time, including the following:
(i) preparation of an up-to-date audited balance sheet of the relevant Swiss Loan Party;
(ii) confirmation of the auditors of the relevant Swiss Loan Party that the relevant amount represents (the maximum of) freely distributable capital of the relevant Swiss Loan Party;
(iii) approval by a shareholders meeting of the relevant Swiss Loan Party of the capital distribution;
(iv) if the enforcement of Restricted Obligations would be limited due to the effects referred to in this clause, then the relevant Swiss Loan Party shall to the extent permitted by applicable law write up or realize any of its assets that are shown in its balance sheet with a book value that is significantly lower than the market value of the assets, in case of realization, however, only if such assets are not necessary for the relevant Swiss Loan Party’s business (nicht betriebsnotwendig); and
(v) all such other measures necessary or useful to allow payment under the Swiss Guarantor Obligation and to allow the relevant Swiss Loan Party to make the payments and perform the obligations agreed hereunder with a minimum of limitations.
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ARTICLE XVI
UK Loan Guaranty
SECTION 16.01 Guarantee. Each UK Loan Party hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Lenders, following the failure of another Loan Party to pay any amount when due, the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, all court costs and attorneys’ fees and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, any Borrower, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively, the “UK Guaranteed Obligations”). Each UK Guarantor further agrees that the UK Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this UK Guarantee apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender or Issuing Bank that extended any portion of the UK Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 16.02 Guarantee of Payment. This UK Guarantee is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each UK Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to require the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (each, a “UK Obligated Party”) to sue any UK Guarantor, any other guarantor, or any other Person obligated for all or any part of the UK Guaranteed Obligations, or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the UK Guaranteed Obligations. In addition, as an original and independent obligation under this UK Guarantee, each UK Loan Party shall:
(a) indemnify each UK Obligated Party and its successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns and keep the UK Obligated Parties indemnified against all costs, losses, expenses and liabilities of whatever kind resulting from the failure by the UK Loan Parties or any of them, to make due and punctual payment of any of the Secured Obligations or resulting from any of the Secured Obligations being or becoming void, voidable, unenforceable or ineffective against any UK Loan Party (including, but without limitation, all legal and other costs, charges and expenses incurred by each UK Obligated Party, or any of them, in connection with preserving or enforcing, or attempting to preserve or enforce, its rights under this UK Guarantee); and
(b) pay on demand the amount of such costs, losses, expenses and liabilities whether or not any of the UK Obligated Parties has attempted to enforce any rights against any UK Loan Party with respect to the Secured Obligations.
SECTION 16.03 No Discharge or Diminishment of UK Guarantee.
(a) Except as otherwise provided for herein, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each UK Loan Party hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the payment in full of the UK Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the UK Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any UK Obligated Party liable for any of the UK Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding affecting any UK Obligated Party or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any UK Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any UK Loan Party may have at any time against any UK Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.
(b) The obligations of each UK Loan Party hereunder, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the UK Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any UK Obligated Party, of the UK Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.
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(c) Further, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of any UK Loan Party hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the UK Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the UK Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for or any obligations of any UK Obligated Party liable for any of the UK Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the UK Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the UK Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such UK Loan Party or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any UK Loan Party as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full of the UK Guaranteed Obligations).
SECTION 16.04 Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each UK Loan Party hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any UK Loan Party or the unenforceability of all or any part of the UK Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any UK Loan Party, other than the payment in full of the UK Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each UK Loan Party irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against any UK Obligated Party, or any other Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each UK Loan Party confirms that it is not a surety under any state law and shall not raise any such law as a defense to its obligations hereunder. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on, or otherwise enforce against, any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the UK Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the UK Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any UK Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any UK Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such UK Guarantor under this UK Guarantee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, except to the extent the UK Guaranteed Obligations have been fully paid. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each UK Loan Party waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any UK Loan Party against any UK Obligated Party or any security.
SECTION 16.05 Rights of Subrogation. No UK Loan Party will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification, that it has against any UK Obligated Party, or any Collateral, until the UK Loan Parties have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.
SECTION 16.06 Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the UK Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or avoided or must otherwise be restored or returned upon or in connection with the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any UK Loan Party or otherwise, each UK Loan Party’s obligations under this UK Guarantee with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders are in possession of this UK Guarantee. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the UK Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any UK Loan Party, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the UK Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the UK Loan Parties promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 16.07 Information. Each UK Loan Party assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the other UK Loan Parties’ financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the UK Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each UK Loan Party assumes and incurs under this UK Guarantee, and agrees that neither the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall have any duty to advise any UK Loan Party of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.
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SECTION 16.08 Maximum UK Liability. In any action or case or proceeding involving any corporate law, or any provincial, territorial, state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, any other Insolvency Law or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any UK Loan Party under this UK Guarantee would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such UK Loan Party’s liability under this UK Guarantee, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this UK Guarantee to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the UK Guarantors or the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant UK Loan Party’s “Maximum UK Liability”. This Section with respect to the Maximum UK Liability of each UK Loan Party is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no UK Loan Party nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum UK Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any UK Loan Party hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law. Each UK Loan Party agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the UK Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum UK Liability of each UK Loan Party without impairing this UK Guarantee or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any UK Loan Party’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum UK Liability.
SECTION 16.09 Contribution. In the event any UK Loan Party (a “Paying UK Loan Party”) shall make any payment or payments under this UK Guarantee or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this UK Guarantee, each other UK Loan Party (each, a “Non-Paying UK Loan Party”) shall contribute to such Paying UK Loan Party an amount equal to such Non-Paying UK Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying UK Loan Party. For purposes of this Article XVI, each Non-Paying UK Loan Party’s “Applicable Percentage” with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying UK Loan Party shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (i) such Non-Paying UK Loan Party’s Maximum UK Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying UK Loan Party’s Maximum UK Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying UK Loan Party from the other UK Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum UK Liability of all UK Loan Parties hereunder (including such Paying UK Loan Party) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum UK Liability has not been determined for any UK Loan Party, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such UK Loan Parties from the other UK Loan Parties after the Effective Date (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means). Nothing in this provision shall affect any UK Loan Party’s several liability for the entire amount of the UK Guaranteed Obligations (up to such UK Loan Party’s Maximum UK Liability). Each of the UK Loan Parties covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this UK Guarantee from a Non-Paying UK Loan Party shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the UK Guaranteed Obligations. This provision is for the benefit of all of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders and the UK Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.
SECTION 16.10 Liability Cumulative. The liability of each UK Loan Party under this Article XVI is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each UK Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such UK Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other UK Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.
ARTICLE XVII
The Borrower Representative
SECTION 17.01 Appointment; Nature of Relationship. The Company is hereby appointed by each of the Loan Parties as its contractual representative (herein referred to as the “Borrower Representative”) hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and each of the Loan Parties irrevocably authorizes the Borrower Representative to act as the contractual representative of such Loan Party with the rights and duties expressly set forth herein and in
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the other Loan Documents thereby, to the extent possible, releasing the Company from any restrictions on representing several persons and self-dealing under any applicable law, and in particular from the restrictions of Section 181 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch). The Borrower Representative agrees to act as such contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Article XVII. Additionally, the Borrowers hereby appoint the Borrower Representative as their agent to receive all of the proceeds of the Loans in the Funding Account(s), at which time the Borrower Representative shall promptly disburse such Loans to the appropriate Borrower. The Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, and their respective Related Parties, shall not be liable to the Borrower Representative or any Loan Party for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Borrower Representative or the Loan Parties pursuant to this Section.
SECTION 17.02 Powers. The Borrower Representative shall have and may exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Borrower Representative by the terms of each thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Borrower Representative shall have no implied duties to the Loan Parties, or any obligation to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action specifically provided by the Loan Documents to be taken by the Borrower Representative.
SECTION 17.03 Employment of Agents. The Borrower Representative may execute any of its duties as the Borrower Representative hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through authorized officers.
SECTION 17.04 Notices. Each Loan Party shall immediately notify the Borrower Representative of the occurrence of any Default hereunder referring to this Agreement describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Borrower Representative receives such a notice, the Borrower Representative shall give prompt notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. Any notice provided to the Borrower Representative hereunder shall constitute notice to each Loan Party on the date received by the Borrower Representative.
SECTION 17.05 Successor Borrower Representative. Upon the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower Representative may resign at any time, such resignation to be effective upon the appointment of a successor Borrower Representative. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt written notice of such resignation to the Lenders.
SECTION 17.06 Execution of Loan Documents; Borrowing Base Certificate. The Loan Parties hereby empower and authorize the Borrower Representative, on behalf of the Loan Parties, to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the Loan Documents and all related agreements, certificates, documents, or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of the Loan Documents, including without limitation, the Borrowing Base Certificates and the Compliance Certificates. Each Loan Party agrees that any action taken by the Borrower Representative or the Loan Parties in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and the exercise by the Borrower Representative of its powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers that are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the Loan Parties.
SECTION 17.07 Reporting. Each Loan Party hereby agrees that such Loan Party shall furnish promptly to the Borrower Representative any certificate or report requested by the Borrower Representative, on which the Borrower Representative shall rely to prepare the Borrowing Base Certificates and Compliance Certificates required pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
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