QSR 8-K
Restaurant Brands International Inc. (QSR)
8-K
2024-05-16
For: 2024-05-16
View Original
Added on
April 12, 2026
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): May 16, 2024
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (Commission | (I.R.S. Employer | ||||||||||||
| incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No.) | ||||||||||||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | ||||||||||
(905 ) 339-6011
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||||||||||||||
| Title of each class | Trading Symbols | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Toronto Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||||
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: | ||||||||||||||
| Title of each class | Trading Symbols | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Class B exchangeable limited partnership units | QSP | Toronto Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
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:
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 May 16, 2024, 1011778 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, an unlimited liability company organized under the laws of British Columbia (the “Parent Borrower”), and New Red Finance, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent Borrower (the “Subsidiary Borrower” and, together with the Parent Borrower, the “Borrowers”) and Restaurant Brands International Limited Partnership, a limited partnership organized under the laws of British Columbia (“Holdings”), each a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Canada (the “Company”), entered into Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9 (the “2024 Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2014, as previously amended (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrowers, Holdings, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto (the “Lenders”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. The 2024 Amendment increases the existing term loan B facility with $5,162 million outstanding to a $5,912 million term loan B facility (the “Term Loan B Facility”) on the same terms as the existing term loan B facility. The security and guarantees under the amended Credit Agreement will be the same as those under the existing facilities. The proceeds from the increase in the Term Loan B Facility were used along with cash on hand to complete the previously announced acquisition of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. that closed on May 16, 2024.
The 2024 Amendment also amended the interest rate applicable to the Canadian dollar loans under the Credit Agreement to be based on Term CORRA. The 2024 Amendment made no other material changes to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
The foregoing summary of the 2024 Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms of the 2024 Incremental Amendment, filed as Exhibit 10.10(o) hereto, which is 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 information included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On May 16, 2024, the Company issued a press release to announce the closing of the Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. acquisition. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, by its general partner RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC. | |||||||||||
| Date: May 16, 2024 | /s/ Jill Granat | ||||||||||
| Name: | Jill Granat | ||||||||||
| Title: | General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||||||||||
EXHIBIT 10.10(o)
INCREMENTAL FACILITY AMENDMENT NO. 6 AND AMENDMENT NO. 9, dated as of May 16, 2024 (this “Amendment”), to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 27, 2014, among 1011778 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, an unlimited liability company organized under the laws of British Columbia (the “Parent Borrower”), NEW RED FINANCE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Subsidiary Borrower” and together with the Parent Borrower, the “Borrowers”), RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of British Columbia (“Holdings”), the other Guarantors party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“JPMCB”), as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer and lender from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”) (as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 2015, Amendment No. 2, dated as of February 17, 2017, Incremental Facility Amendment, dated as of March 27, 2017, Incremental Facility Amendment No. 2, dated as of May 17, 2017, Incremental Facility Amendment No. 3, dated as of October 13, 2017, Amendment No. 3, dated as of October 2, 2018, Incremental Facility Amendment No. 4, dated as of September 6, 2019, Amendment No. 4, dated as of November 19, 2019, Amendment No. 5, dated as of April 2, 2020, Incremental Facility Amendment No. 5 and Amendment No. 6, dated as of December 13, 2021, Amendment No. 7, dated as of September 21, 2023, and Amendment No. 8, dated as of December 28, 2023, and as further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”); capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 16, 2024 (together with all exhibits, schedules, and disclosure letters thereto, collectively, the “Acquisition Agreement”) entered into with Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (the “Target”) and the other parties thereto, the Parent Borrower will indirectly acquire (the “Acquisition”) all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Target through a merger of a newly formed subsidiary of the Parent Borrower with and into the Target in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement;
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the Borrowers may obtain Incremental Term Loans by entering into one or more Incremental Facility Amendments with Additional Lenders;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.14(d) of the Credit Agreement, an Incremental Facility Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to any Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and the Revolving Credit Lenders party hereto (which constitute all Revolving Credit Lenders) desire to amend the Credit Agreement on the terms set forth herein, and the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower desire to make certain other technical amendments, in each case, as provided in Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, JPMCB, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, TD Securities (USA) LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (in such capacities, the “Additional Term B-5 Arrangers”) and Capital One, National Association, Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, MUFG Bank, Ltd., The Bank of Nova Scotia, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Mizuho Bank, Ltd. are acting as co-documentation agents (in such capacity, the “Additional Term B-5 Co-
Documentation Agents”), in each case, in connection with the Incremental Term Loans made pursuant to this Amendment (such Incremental Term Loans, the “Additional Term B-5 Loans”);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
Section 1.Additional Term B-5 Loans and Amendments to Credit Agreement.
(a)Each Lender listed on Schedule I (each an “Additional Term B-5 Lender”) hereby commits to fund in Dollars an Additional Term B-5 Loan in the principal amount set forth opposite such Additional Term B-5 Lender’s name on Schedule I in a single drawing on the Incremental Facility Closing Date (as defined below) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein (such Additional Term B-5 Lender’s Commitment, an “Additional Term B-5 Commitment”). The Additional Term B-5 Loans shall be identical to the Term B-5 Loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Incremental Facility Closing Date (the “Existing Term B-5 Loans”), except that the Additional Term B-5 Loans shall accrue interest from the Incremental Facility Closing Date. The Additional Term B-5 Loans shall form part of the same Class of Term Loans as the Existing Term B-5 Loans and, from and after the Incremental Facility Closing Date, all references to “Term B-5 Loans” in the Credit Agreement shall, unless the context plainly requires otherwise, include the Additional Term B-5 Loans. The Additional Term B-5 Loans shall initially be funded as a pro rata increase in each then outstanding Borrowing of Existing Term B-5 Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date.
(b)From and after the Incremental Facility Closing Date, the amount of each required repayment of Term B-5 Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(a)(i) of the Credit Agreement shall be increased in the same proportion as (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Term B-5 Loans (including the Existing Term B-5 Loans and the Additional Term B-5 Loans) outstanding immediately following the funding of the Additional Term B-5 Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date bears to (ii) the amount of the Existing Term B-5 Loans outstanding immediately prior to the funding of the Additional Term B-5 Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date.
(c)The proceeds of the Additional Term B-5 Loans will be used by the Borrowers on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, together with cash on hand of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, (x) to pay the consideration in connection with the Acquisition, (y) to pay for the Refinancing (as defined below) and, at the option of the Borrowers, to redeem, purchase, repurchase or otherwise satisfy any or all of the Target’s 5.875% senior notes due 2029 and (z) to pay the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing (clauses (x), (y) and (z), collectively, the “Incremental Facility Transactions”).
Section 2.Amendment. The Credit Agreement is, effective as of the Incremental Facility Closing Date (as defined below), hereby amended to (i) delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) as set forth in the pages of the Credit Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto; and (ii) amend Schedule 2.03(a) of the Credit Agreement in its entirety and substitute with Schedule 2.03(a) hereof.
Section 3.Representations and Warranties. The Borrowers hereby represent and warrant that as of the Incremental Facility Closing Date, after giving effect to this Amendment, the Specified Representations (with modifications to the representation in (i) Section 5.15 of the Credit Agreement, so that such representation and warranty is also made on the Incremental Facility Closing
2
Date immediately after giving effect to the Incremental Facility Transactions and (ii) Section 5.18 of the Credit Agreement so that such representation and warranty also refers to the use of proceeds of the Additional Term B-5 Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date (as described in Section 1 hereof)) shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Incremental Facility Closing Date; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided, further, that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates.
Section 4.Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective on the date (such date, the “Incremental Facility Closing Date”) that the following conditions have been satisfied or waived:
(i)Counterparts. The Administrative Agent shall have received executed signature pages hereto from each Loan Party, each Additional Term B-5 Lender and each Revolving Credit Lender;
(ii)Fees. The Administrative Agent, the Additional Term B-5 Arrangers, the Additional Term B-5 Co-Documentation Agents and the Additional Term B-5 Lenders shall have received (x) the fees in the amounts previously agreed in writing to be received on the Incremental Facility Closing Date and (y) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid or reimbursed under Section 10.04 of the Credit Agreement for which invoices have been presented at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Incremental Facility Closing Date (in each case, which amounts may be offset against the proceeds of the Additional Term B-5 Loans);
(iii)Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received favorable legal opinions from each of (A) Sidley Austin LLP, New York counsel to the Loan Parties, and (B) Stikeman Elliot LLP, British Columbia counsel to the Loan Parties, covering such matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(iv)“Know Your Customer” Information. The Administrative Agent and the Additional Term B-5 Arrangers shall have received at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Incremental Facility Closing Date all documentation and other information about the Borrowers and the Guarantors as has been reasonably requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Incremental Facility Closing Date by the Administrative Agent or the Additional Term B-5 Arrangers that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act;
(v)Closing Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrowers dated the Incremental Facility Closing Date certifying that the condition set forth in clause (ix)(b) below is satisfied;
(vi)Officer’s Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (a) a copy of the Organization Documents, as in effect as of the date hereof, of each Loan Party, certified, if
3
applicable, as of a recent date by the Secretary of State or similar Governmental Authority of the state or jurisdiction of its organization (or a certification from each Loan Party that there have been no changes to the Organization Documents, including all amendments thereto, that were delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Incremental Facility Closing Date), and (b) a certificate as to the good standing (where relevant) of each Loan Party as of a recent date, from such Secretary of State or similar Governmental Authority;
(vii)Solvency Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate attesting to the Solvency of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) on the Incremental Facility Closing Date after giving effect to the Incremental Facility Transactions, from the Parent Borrower’s chief financial officer or other officer with equivalent duties;
(viii)Committed Loan Notice. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Committed Loan Notice in respect of the Additional Term B-5 Loans as required by Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement;
(ix)Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations; Specified Representations. (a) The representations made by the Target in the Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Additional Term B-5 Lenders, but only to the extent that the Parent Borrower or its Affiliates have the right to terminate their obligations under the Acquisition Agreement or to decline to consummate the Acquisition as a result of a breach of such representations in the Acquisition Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Incremental Facility Closing Date and (b) the Specified Representations (with modifications to the representation in (i) Section 5.15 of the Credit Agreement, so that such representation and warranty is also made on the Incremental Facility Closing Date immediately after giving effect to the Incremental Facility Transactions and (ii) Section 5.18 of the Credit Agreement so that such representation and warranty also refers to the use of proceeds of the Additional Term B-5 Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date (as described in Section 1 hereof)), shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Incremental Facility Closing Date; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided, further, that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates;
(x)Acquisition. The Acquisition shall have been consummated, or substantially simultaneously with the borrowing of the Additional Term B-5 Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be consummated, in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, consents or waivers by the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that are materially adverse to the Additional Term B-5 Lenders or the Additional Term B-5 Arrangers, without the prior consent of the Additional Term B-5 Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) (it being understood that (a) any reduction in the purchase price of, or consideration for, the Acquisition is not material and adverse to the interests of the Additional Term B-5 Lenders or the Additional Term B-5 Arrangers, but any reduction in the cash consideration in excess of 15% shall be applied to reduce the Additional Term B-5 Loans from the amounts set forth on Schedule I on a Dollar for Dollar basis and (b) any amendment to the definition of “Company Material Adverse
4
Effect” is materially adverse to the interests of the Additional Term B-5 Lenders and the Additional Term B-5 Arrangers);
(xi)Refinancing. Substantially simultaneously with the borrowing of the Additional Term B-5 Loans on the Incremental Facility Closing Date, all outstanding debt of the Target under its or its subsidiaries’ Credit Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), will be repaid and the commitments thereunder terminated (collectively, the “Refinancing”);
(xii)No Company Material Adverse Effect. No Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) will have occurred after January 16, 2024 that is continuing;
(xiii)Historical Financial Statements. The Additional Term B-5 Arrangers shall have received (a) the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Target and related statements of income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Target for the fiscal years ended on or around December 31, 2021, December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023 and (b) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) and the Target for each of the first three subsequent fiscal quarters after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (a) above and ended at least 45 days before the Incremental Facility Closing Date; provided that the filing of the required financial statements on form 10-K and form 10-Q within such time periods by the Parent Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or the Target will satisfy the requirements of this clause (xiii).
Section 5.Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by facsimile or any other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart hereof. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this letter agreement and/or any document to be signed in connection with this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures (as defined below), 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. “Electronic Signatures” means any electronic symbol or process attached to, or associated with, any contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
Section 6.Headings. The headings of this Amendment are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
Section 7.Effect of Amendment; Miscellaneous. This Amendment shall constitute an “Incremental Facility Amendment” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the Additional Term B-5 Loans shall constitute “Incremental Term Loans” and “Term B-5 Loans” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Except as expressly set forth herein, (i) this Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Lenders, the Administrative
5
Agent or the Collateral Agent, in each case under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (ii) shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for purposes of the Credit Agreement, including without limitation for purposes of Sections 10.14, 10.15 and 10.17 thereof, and from and after the Incremental Facility Closing Date, all references to the Credit Agreement in any Loan Document and all references in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Credit Agreement, shall, unless expressly provided otherwise, refer to the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment. The Additional Term B-5 Arrangers shall be entitled to all rights, privileges and immunities provided to the “Lead Arrangers” in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the Additional Term B-5 Co-Documentation Agents shall be entitled to all rights, privileges and immunities provided to the “Documentation Agents” in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. This Amendment shall not constitute a novation of the Credit Agreement or any of the Loan Documents.
Section 8.Reaffirmation. Except as expressly set forth herein, each and every term, condition, obligation, covenant and agreement contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document is hereby ratified and re-affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect and each Loan Party reaffirms its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is party and the grant of its Liens on the Collateral made by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Documents and all of the Collateral described therein do and shall continue to secure the payment of all Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in each case, as amended by this Amendment. Each of the Loan Parties hereby consents to this Amendment and confirms that all obligations of such Loan Party under the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party shall continue to apply to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
1011778 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, as the Parent Borrower
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
NEW RED FINANCE, INC., as the Subsidiary Borrower
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as Holdings
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
1013421 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, as a Parent Guarantor
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
1013414 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, as a Parent Guarantor
By: _____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9]
BK ACQUISITION INC.
BURGER KING CAPITAL FINANCE, INC. BURGER KING INTERAMERICA, LLC
BURGER KING COMPANY LLC
BURGER KING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
BURGER KING INVESTMENTS, INC.
LLCXOX, LLC
ORANGE GROUP, INC.
ORANGE INTERMEDIATE, LLC
BK WHOPPER BAR, LLC
RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL US SERVICES LLC
TIM DONUT U.S. LIMITED, INC.
TIM HORTONS (NEW ENGLAND), INC.
TIM HORTONS USA INC.
BCP-SUB, LLC
BLUE HOLDCO AKA8, LLC
LLC-QZ, LLC
SBFD, LLC
LLC-QQ, LLC
RB KITCHENS, LLC
NORTH POLE ACQUISITION, LLC
NPFH HOLDCO, LLC
BLUE FINANCE HOLDINGS 4, LLC
CAPITAL 94, LLC
FIREHOUSE OF AMERICA, LLC
FRG, LLC
WS COINVEST GP, INC.
POPEYES LOUISIANA KITCHEN, INC.
BK CHESHIRE CORP.,
as Guarantors
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
BCP US, LP, as a Guarantor
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9]
1014369 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
1019334 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY THE TDL GROUP CORP./GROUPE TDL CORPORATION
1028539 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
1029261 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
1057772 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TDLRR SUBCO HOLDINGS ULC
1112097 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
1112104 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
1112106 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
1112090 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
1112100 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY BC12SUB-ORANGE HOLDINGS ULC
LAX HOLDINGS ULC
RB TIMBIT HOLDINGS ULC
RB OCS HOLDINGS ULC
RB CRISPY CHICKEN HOLDINGS ULC
PBB HOLDINGS ULC
ZN1 HOLDINGS ULC
ZN3 HOLDINGS ULC
ZN4 HOLDINGS ULC
ZN5 HOLDINGS ULC
ZN6 HOLDINGS ULC
ZN7 HOLDINGS ULC
ZN8 HOLDINGS ULC
ZN9 HOLDINGS ULC
ZN19TDL HOLDINGS ULC
12-2019 HOLDINGS ULC
12ZZ HOLDINGS ULC
RBHZZ HOLDINGS ULC
12KR HOLDINGS ULC
12KRR HOLDINGS ULC
KR1 HOLDINGS ULC
KR3 HOLDINGS ULC
KR4 HOLDINGS ULC
KR5 HOLDINGS ULC
KR6 HOLDINGS ULC
KR7 HOLDINGS ULC
KR8 HOLDINGS ULC
KR9 HOLDINGS ULC
KR19TDL HOLDINGS ULC
2097A HOLDINGS ULC
2097AA HOLDINGS ULC
LDTA HOLDINGS ULC
LDTAA HOLDINGS ULC
2097B HOLDINGS ULC
LDTC HOLDINGS ULC
IPCOA HOLDINGS ULC
IPCOAA HOLDINGS ULC
[Signature Page to Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9]
IPCOB HOLDINGS ULC
1011778 SUBCO HOLDINGS ULC
LAX SUBCO HOLDINGS ULC
RBH MIDCO HOLDINGS ULC
RBH SUBCO 4 HOLDINGS ULC
LAX SUBCO 2 HOLDINGS INC.
12 LP SUBCO HOLDINGS ULC
RBH SUB1 HOLDINGS CORPORATION
RBH SUB2 HOLDINGS CORPORATION
RBH SUB3 HOLDINGS CORPORATION RESTAURANT BRANDS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
TIM HORTONS CANADIAN IP HOLDINGS CORPORATION
ORANGE GROUP INTERNATIONAL, INC. BURGER KING CANADA HOLDINGS INC. FIREHOUSE SUBS OF CANADA LTD.
BK CANADA SERVICE ULC
PLK ENTERPRISES OF CANADA, INC.
GPAIR LIMITED,
as Guarantors
By: _____________________________________
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9]
SOCIÉTÉ EN COMMANDITE 2097P / 2097P
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
SOCIÉTÉ EN COMMANDITE BC12/ BC12 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
SOCIÉTÉ EN COMMANDITE BC12P/ BC12P
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor By:
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
SOCIÉTÉ EN COMMANDITE IPCO / IPCO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
SOCIÉTÉ EN COMMANDITE LDTB / LDTB
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9]
SOCIÉTÉ EN COMMANDITE P2019/P2019 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
SOCIÉTÉ EN COMMANDITE TARTE 3/ PIE 3
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
SOCIÉTÉ EN COMMANDITE TARTE 4/ PIE 4
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, as a Guarantor
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9]
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, as an Additional Term B-5 Lender and as a Revolving Credit Lender
as Administrative Agent, as an Additional Term B-5 Lender and as a Revolving Credit Lender
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
as a Revolving Credit Lender
By: ______________________________________
Name:
Title:
[Signature Page to Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9]
SCHEDULE I
TO INCREMENTAL FACILITY AMENDMENT NO. 6 AND AMENDMENT NO. 9
TO INCREMENTAL FACILITY AMENDMENT NO. 6 AND AMENDMENT NO. 9
| Additional Term B-5 Lender | Additional Term B-5 Commitment | ||||
| JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. | $750,000,000.00 | ||||
| Total: | $750,000,000.00 | ||||
SCHEDULE 2.03(A)
EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT
EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT
| Beneficiary | LC Number | Face Amount | ||||||
| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | IS000075522U | $16,698.55 | ||||||
| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | IS000086752U | $6,600.00 | ||||||
| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | IS0000149967U | $21,440.60 | ||||||
| Liberty Mutual Insurance Company | IS0002084 | $9,963,500.00 | ||||||
| Zurich American Insurance Company | IS000294388U | $601,786.00 | ||||||
| Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation | IS000346501U | $420,000.00 | ||||||
Execution Version
Exhibit A
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of October 27, 2014, as amended on May 22, 2015, February 17, 2017, March 27, 2017,
May 17, 2017, October 13, 2017, October 2, 2018, September 6, 2019, November 19, 2019, April 2, 2020, December 13, 2021, September 21, 2023 and, December 28, 2023 and May 16, 2024
among
1011778 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY,
as the Parent Borrower,
as the Parent Borrower,
NEW RED FINANCE, INC.,
as the Subsidiary Borrower,
as the Subsidiary Borrower,
1013421 B.C. UNLIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY,
as Holdings (prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date), and
RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
as Holdings (after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date)
RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP,
as Holdings (after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date)
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,
BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC,
and
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
as LeadAdditional Term B-5 Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners for Amendment No. 7
CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
COÖPERATIEVE RABOBANK U.A., NEW YORK BRANCH,
MUFG BANK, LTD,
TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.,
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
BNP PARIBAS,
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,
and
MIZUHO BANK, LTD.
and
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC
as Additional Term B-5 Co-Documentation Agents for Amendment No. 7
Table of Contents
Page
ARTICLE I
Definitions and Accounting Terms
Section 1.01 Defined Terms...................................................................…................................. 2
Section 1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions............................................................................. 7879
Section 1.03 Accounting Terms............................................................................................ 7880
Section 1.04 Rounding......................................................................................................... 7980
Section 1.05 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc................................................................. 7981
Section 1.06 Times of Day.................................................................................................... 7981
Section 1.07 Timing of Payment or Performance.................................................................... 7981
Section 1.08 Currency Equivalents Generally......................................................................... 7981
Section 1.09 Certain Calculations and Tests........................................................................... 8082
Section 1.10 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification............................................................... 8183
Section 1.11 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents............................................................... 8283
Section 1.12 Covenant Election............................................................................................. 8284
Section 1.13 Cashless Rolls................................................................................................... 8284
ARTICLE II
The Commitments and Credit Extensions
Section 2.01 The Loans......................................................................................................... 8384
Section 2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.......................................... 8385
Section 2.03 Letters of Credit................................................................................................. 8587
Section 2.04 Swing Line Loans.............................................................................................. 9294
Section 2.05 Prepayments...................................................................................................... 9496
Section 2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments..................................................... 102104
Section 2.07 Repayment of Loans...................................................................................... 103104
Section 2.08 Interest.......................................................................................................... 103105
Section 2.09 Fees.............................................................................................................. 104106
Section 2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees.................................................................... 104106
Section 2.11 Evidence of Indebtedness................................................................................ 105107
Section 2.12 Payments Generally........................................................................................ 106108
Section 2.13 Sharing of Payments....................................................................................... 108109
Section 2.14 Incremental Credit Extensions......................................................................... 108110
Section 2.15 Extensions of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments........................ 111113
Section 2.16 Defaulting Lenders......................................................................................... 113115
Section 2.17 Permitted Debt Exchanges.............................................................................. 114116
Section 2.18 Loan Funding................................................................................................. 117119
ARTICLE III
Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality
Section 3.01 Taxes............................................................................................................ 118119
Section 3.02 Inability to Determine Rates............................................................................ 121123
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Page
Section 3.03 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Term Benchmark Loans...................................................................................................................................... 124127
Section 3.04 Funding Losses.............................................................................................. 126128
Section 3.05 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation...................................... 126128
Section 3.06 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances...................................... 127129
Section 3.07 Survival......................................................................................................... 128130
ARTICLE IV
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions
Section 4.01 Conditions to Closing Date............................................................................. 128130
Section 4.02 Conditions to Subsequent Credit Extensions.................................................... 131133
Section 4.03 Conditions to Escrow Closing Date................................................................. 131134
ARTICLE V
Representations and Warranties
Section 5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws............................. 133135
Section 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention..................................................................... 133135
Section 5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.................................................. 133135
Section 5.04 Binding Effect................................................................................................ 133136
Section 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.............................................134136
Section 5.06 Litigation....................................................................................................... 134136
Section 5.07 Ownership of Property; Liens.......................................................................... 134137
Section 5.08 Environmental Compliance............................................................................. 134137
Section 5.09 Taxes............................................................................................................. 135137
Section 5.10 Compliance with ERISA................................................................................. 135138
Section 5.11 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.......................................................................... 136138
Section 5.12 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act................................................ 136138
Section 5.13 Disclosure...................................................................................................... 136138
Section 5.14 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.................................................................. 136139
Section 5.15 Solvency........................................................................................................ 137139
Section 5.16 Collateral Documents..................................................................................... 137139
Section 5.17 Use of Proceeds............................................................................................. 137139
Section 5.18 Anti-Terrorism Laws; OFAC and Anti-Corruption Laws ..................................137139
Section 5.19 Senior Indebtedness........................................................................................ 137140
ARTICLE VI
Affirmative Covenants
Section 6.01 Financial Statements....................................................................................... 138140
Section 6.02 Certificates; Other Information........................................................................ 139141
Section 6.03 Notices.......................................................................................................... 140142
Section 6.04 Maintenance of Existence............................................................................... 141143
Section 6.05 Maintenance of Properties............................................................................... 141143
Section 6.06 Maintenance of Insurance............................................................................... 141143
Section 6.07 Compliance with Laws................................................................................... 141143
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Page
Section 6.08 Books and Records......................................................................................... 141143
Section 6.09 Inspection Rights........................................................................................... 141144
Section 6.10 Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security...................................... 142144
Section 6.11 Use of Proceeds............................................................................................. 143146
Section 6.12 Further Assurances and Post-Closing Covenants.............................................. 144146
Section 6.13 Designation of Subsidiaries............................................................................. 144146
Section 6.14 Payment of Taxes........................................................................................... 145147
Section 6.15 Nature of Business......................................................................................... 145147
ARTICLE VII
Negative Covenants
Section 7.01 Liens............................................................................................................. 145148
Section 7.02 Investments................................................................................................... 149151
Section 7.03 Indebtedness.................................................................................................. 152155
Section 7.04 Fundamental Changes..................................................................................... 157159
Section 7.05 Dispositions................................................................................................... 159161
Section 7.06 Restricted Payments....................................................................................... 161164
Section 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates............................................................................ 165167
Section 7.08 Prepayments, Etc., of Indebtedness.................................................................. 166168
Section 7.09 Financial Covenant......................................................................................... 167169
Section 7.10 Negative Pledge and Subsidiary Distributions.................................................. 167169
Section 7.11 Activities Prior to the Closing Date................................................................. 168170
ARTICLE VIII
Events of Default and Remedies
Section 8.01 Events of Default........................................................................................... 168170
Section 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default.................................................................... 170172
Section 8.03 Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries............................................................... 171173
Section 8.04 Application of Funds...................................................................................... 171173
Section 8.05 Permitted Holders’ Right to Cure.................................................................... 172175
ARTICLE IX
Administrative Agent and Other Agents
Section 9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Agents....................................................... 173175
Section 9.02 Delegation of Duties....................................................................................... 174176
Section 9.03 Liability of Agents......................................................................................... 174176
Section 9.04 Reliance by Agents........................................................................................ 175177
Section 9.05 Notice of Default............................................................................................ 175177
Section 9.06 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents...................................... 175178
Section 9.07 Indemnification of Agents............................................................................... 176178
Section 9.08 Agents in their Individual Capacities............................................................... 177179
Section 9.09 Successor Agents........................................................................................... 177179
Section 9.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim............................................... 178180
Section 9.11 Collateral and Guaranty Matters...................................................................... 178180
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Page
Section 9.12 Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers........................................................... 179181
Section 9.13 Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents....................................... 179181
Section 9.14 Withholding Tax............................................................................................ 180182
Section 9.15 Cash Management Obligations; Secured Hedge Agreements............................. 181183
Section 9.16 Acknowledgements of Lenders....................................................................... 181183
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous
Section 10.01 Amendments, Etc........................................................................................... 182184
Section 10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies......................................... 184186
Section 10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies................................................................... 186188
Section 10.04 Attorney Costs and Expenses.......................................................................... 186188
Section 10.05 Indemnification by the Borrowers.................................................................... 186188
Section 10.06 Payments Set Aside........................................................................................ 188190
Section 10.07 Successors and Assigns................................................................................... 188190
Section 10.08 Confidentiality............................................................................................... 193195
Section 10.09 Setoff............................................................................................................ 193196
Section 10.10 Counterparts.................................................................................................. 194196
Section 10.11 Integration..................................................................................................... 194196
Section 10.12 Survival of Representations and Warranties..................................................... 194196
Section 10.13 Severability.................................................................................................... 194197
Section 10.14 GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION, SERVICE OF PROCESS.................... 195197
Section 10.15 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY................................................... 196198
Section 10.16 Binding Effect................................................................................................ 196198
Section 10.17 Judgment Currency......................................................................................... 196198
Section 10.18 Lender Action................................................................................................ 196198
Section 10.19 USA PATRIOT Act....................................................................................... 197199
Section 10.20 Intercreditor Agreements................................................................................ 197199
Section 10.21 Obligations Absolute...................................................................................... 197200
Section 10.22 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility......................................................... 198200
Section 10.23 Quebec Matters.............................................................................................. 198200
Section 10.24 Joint and Several Liability............................................................................... 199201
Section 10.25 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions....... 199201
Section 10.26 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs......................................... 200202
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SCHEDULES
1.01A — Certain Security Interests and Guarantees
1.01B — Unrestricted Subsidiaries
1.01C — Excluded Subsidiaries
1.01D — Guarantors
1.01F — Material Real Properties
2.01 — Commitments
2.03(a) — Existing Letters of Credit
5.06 — Litigation
5.11 — Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments
6.12 — Post-Closing Covenants
7.01(b) — Existing Liens
7.02 — Existing Investments
7.03(c) — Surviving Indebtedness
7.05(d) — Specified Dispositions
7.07 — Transactions with Affiliates
10.02 — Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS
Form of
A — Committed Loan Notice
B — Swing Line Loan Notice
C-1 — Term Note
C-2 — Revolving Credit Note
D — Compliance Certificate
E — Assignment and Assumption
F — Guaranty
G-1 — Canadian Security Agreement
G-2 — U.S. Security Agreement
H — Discounted Prepayment Option Notice
I — Lender Participation Notice
J — Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice
K — Notes Intercreditor Agreement
L — United States Tax Compliance Certificate
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of October 27, 2014, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 22, 2015, Amendment No. 2, dated as of February 17, 2017, the Incremental Facility Amendment, dated as of March 27, 2017, Incremental Facility Amendment No. 2, dated as of May 17, 2017, Incremental Facility Amendment No. 3, dated as of October 13, 2017, Amendment No. 3, dated as of October 2, 2018, Incremental Facility Amendment No. 4, dated as of September 6, 2019, Amendment No. 4, dated as of November 19, 2019, Amendment No. 5, dated as of April 2, 2020, Incremental Facility Amendment No. 5 and Amendment No. 6, dated as of December 13, 2021, Amendment No. 7, dated as of September 21, 2023 and, Amendment No. 8, dated as of December [•]28, 2023, and Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9, dated as of May 16, 2024, among 1011778 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, an unlimited liability company organized under the laws of British Columbia (the “Parent Borrower”), New Red Finance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Subsidiary Borrower” and together with the Parent Borrower, the “Borrowers”), 1013421 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, an unlimited liability company organized under the laws of British Columbia (“Initial Holdings” and, prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, “Holdings”), from and after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, Restaurant Brands International Limited Partnership, a limited partnership organized under the laws of British Columbia (“New Holdings” and, after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, “Holdings”), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“JPMCB”), as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer and lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”).
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
1.The Parent Borrower (as this and other capitalized terms used in these Preliminary Statements are defined in Section 1.01 below) intends to indirectly acquire (the “Acquisition”) all of the outstanding common stock of each of Tim Hortons Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Canada (“THI”) and Burger King Worldwide, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“BKW”). To effect the Acquisition, (i) certain Investors will make the Equity Contribution and (ii) the Parent Borrower will indirectly consummate the transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 26, 2014 (as amended, the “Acquisition Agreement”), by and among BKW, 1011773 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, New Red Canada Partnership, Blue Merger Sub, Inc., 8997900 Canada Inc. and THI.
2.The Borrowers have requested that immediately prior to the consummation of the Acquisition, the Lenders extend credit directly to or on behalf of the Parent Borrower in the form of (i) Term B-1 Loans in an initial aggregate principal amount equal to $6,750,000,000 and (ii) a Revolving Credit Facility in an initial aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000. The Revolving Credit Facility may include one or more Swing Line Loans and one or more Letters of Credit from time to time.
3.The proceeds of the Term B-1 Loans and the Initial Revolving Borrowing (to the extent permitted in accordance with the definition of the term “Permitted Initial Revolving Borrowing”), together with the proceeds of (i) the Senior Secured Notes and (ii) the Equity Contribution, will be used by the Parent Borrower to finance the Acquisition and the Transaction Expenses and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, to consummate the Refinancing. The proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans made after the Closing Date and Letters of Credit will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes of Holdings and its Subsidiaries. Swing Line Loans will be used for general corporate purposes of Holdings and its Subsidiaries.
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4.The Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend, and the L/C Issuer has indicated its willingness to issue Letters of Credit, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions and Accounting Terms
Definitions and Accounting Terms
Section 10.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“2019 Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Revolving Credit Commitment”.
“2019 Revolving Facility” means the 2019 Revolving Credit Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder.
“2019 Term A Loans” means the Term A Loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Amendment No. 6 Effective Date.
“2021 Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Revolving Credit Commitment”.
“2021 Revolving Facility” means the 2021 Revolving Credit Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder.
“2021 Term A Loans” means the Term A Loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement immediately prior to the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date.
“2023 Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Revolving Credit Commitment”.
“2023 Revolving Credit Lender” means a Revolving Credit Lender with a Loan or Commitment under the 2023 Revolving Facility.
“2023 Revolving Facility” means the 2023 Revolving Credit Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder.
“2023 Term A Commitment” means with respect to each 2023 Term A Lender, its commitment to make a 2023 Term A Loan on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date in an amount set forth on Schedule B to Amendment No. 7. The aggregate amount of 2023 Term A Commitments on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date is $1,275,000,000.
“2023 Term A Facility” means the 2023 Term A Commitments and the 2023 Term A Loans made hereunder.
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“2023 Term A Lender” means the Persons identified as such on Schedule B to Amendment No. 7 and their respective successors and assigns.
“2023 Term A Loans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).
“Acceptable Discount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iii).
“Acceptance Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii).
“Accounting Changes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03(d).
“Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Converted Restricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable.
“Acquired Entity or Business” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“Acquisition” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.
“Acquisition Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.
“Additional Incremental Term B-3 Commitment” means with respect to the Additional Incremental Term B-3 Lender, its commitment to make a Term B-3 Loan on the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date in an amount equal to $1,300,000,000.
“Additional Incremental Term B-3 Lender” means the Person identified as such on the signature page to Incremental Amendment No. 1.
“Additional Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).
“Additional Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Additional Term B-3 Commitment” means with respect to the Additional Term B-3 Lender, its commitment to make a Term B-3 Loan on the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date in an amount equal to $1,175,296,572.83.
“Additional Term B-3 Lender” means the Person identified as such on the signature page to Amendment No. 2.
“Additional Term B-4 Commitment” means with respect to the Additional Term B-4 Lender, its commitment to make a Term B-4 Loan on the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date in an amount equal to $1,444,346,992.94.
“Additional Term B-4 Lender” means the Person identified as such on the signature page to Amendment No. 4.
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“Additional Term B-5 Commitment” means with respect to the Additional Term B-5 Lender, its commitment to make a Term B-5 Loan (i) on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date in an amount equal to $5,175,000,000, and (ii) on the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date in an amount equal to $750,000,000.
“Additional Term B-5 Lender” means the Person identified as such on the signature page to Amendment No. 7 or Amendment No. 9.
“Adjusted Daily Simple RFR” means, (i) with respect to any RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple RFR for Dollars, plus (b) 0.00%, and (ii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple RFR for Canadian Dollars, plus (b) 0.00%; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR 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.
“Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.00%; 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, subject to Section 9.13, JPMCB (and any of its Affiliates selected by JPMCB to act as administrative agent for any of the facilities provided hereunder), in its capacity as administrative agent under the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent appointed in accordance with Section 9.09.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders.
“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 any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. “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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender listed on Schedule 2.01 (nor any of their respective Affiliates a majority of the voting Equity Interests of which are owned directly or indirectly by a parent company of any such Lender) shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Investor unless such Investor directly or indirectly owns a majority of the voting Equity Interests of any such Person.
“Affiliated Debt Fund” means a Sponsor Affiliated Lender that is primarily engaged in, or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or
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otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business and with respect to which the Sponsor does not, directly or indirectly, possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the investment policies of such entity.
“Agent-Related Persons” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.
“Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, and the Supplemental Administrative Agents (if any).
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Agreed Currencies” means Dollars and each Revolving Alternative Currency.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2, Amendment No. 3, Amendment No. 4, Amendment No. 5, Amendment No. 6, Amendment No. 7, Incremental Amendment No. 1, Incremental Amendment No. 2, Incremental Amendment No. 3 and Incremental Amendment No. 4.from time to time.
“Agreement Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17.
“Alternative Currency” means each of Euro, Argentine Peso, Australian Dollars, Brazilian Real, British Pounds Sterling, Canadian Dollars, Chinese Yuan, Croatian Kuna, Danish Kroner, Indian Rupee, Israeli New Shekel, Japanese Yen, Korean Won, Mexican Pesos, Nigerian Naira, Norwegian Krone, Pakistani Rupee, Polish Zloty, Russian Ruble, Singapore Dollars, South African Rand, Swedish Kroner, Swiss Francs, Turkish Lira, Uruguayan Peso, Venezuelan Bolívar, and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is a lawful currency that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars.
“Alternative Currency Letter of Credit” means a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.
“Amendment No. 1” means Amendment No. 1 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Amendment No. 1 Effective Date” shall mean May 22, 2015.
“Amendment No. 1 Lead Arrangers” means J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and RBC Capital Markets in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners for Amendment No. 1.
“Amendment No. 2” means Amendment No. 2 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Amendment No. 2 Consenting Lender” shall mean each Lender that provided the Administrative Agent with a counterpart to Amendment No. 2 executed by such Lender.
“Amendment No. 2 Effective Date” shall mean February 17, 2017.
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“Amendment No. 2 Lead Arrangers” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, RBC Capital Markets and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners for Amendment No. 2.
“Amendment No. 3” means Amendment No. 3 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 3 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Amendment No. 3 Effective Date” shall mean October 2, 2018.
“Amendment No. 3 Lead Arranger” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as lead arranger and bookrunner for Amendment No. 3.
“Amendment No. 4” means Amendment No. 4 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Amendment No. 4 Co-Managers” means, collectively, Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, MUFG Bank, Ltd, Bank of Montreal, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Fifth Third Bank, BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., The Bank of Nova Scotia, Truist Securities, Inc. and Capital One, N.A., in their capacities as co-managers, in each case, for Amendment No. 4.
“Amendment No. 4 Consenting Lender” shall mean each Lender that provided the Administrative Agent with a counterpart to Amendment No. 4 executed by such Lender.
“Amendment No. 4 Effective Date” shall mean November 19, 2019.
“Amendment No. 4 Lead Arrangers” means, collectively, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC in their capacities as joint bookrunners, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, Barclays Bank PLC and BofA Securities, Inc., in their capacities as lead arrangers, in each case, for Amendment No. 4.
“Amendment No. 5” means Amendment No. 5 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 5 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Amendment No. 5 Effective Date” shall mean April 2, 2020.
“Amendment No. 6” means Incremental Facility Amendment No. 5 and Amendment No. 6 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 6 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Amendment No. 6 Co-Documentation Agents” means, collectively, Capital One, National Association, Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, MUFG Bank, Ltd, Truist Securities, Inc., The Bank of Nova Scotia, Fifth Third Bank, BNP Paribas, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, TD Securities, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and PNC Capital Markets LLC, in their capacities as co-documentation agents, in each case, for Amendment No. 6.
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“Amendment No. 6 Effective Date” shall mean December 13, 2021.
“Amendment No. 6 Lead Arrangers” means, collectively, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Royal Bank of Canada, in their capacities as lead arrangers and lead bookrunners, in each case, for Amendment No. 6.
“Amendment No. 7” means Amendment No. 7 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Amendment No. 7 Effective Date” shall mean September 21, 2023.
“Amendment No. 7 Co-Documentation Agents” means, collectively, Capital One, National Association, Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, MUFG Bank, Ltd, Truist Securities, Inc., The Bank of Nova Scotia, BNP Paribas, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and PNC Capital Markets LLC, in their capacities as co-documentation agents, in each case, for Amendment No. 7.
“Amendment No. 7 Lead Arrangers” means, collectively, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, TD Securities and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in their capacities as lead arrangers and lead bookrunners, in each case, for Amendment No. 7.
“Amendment No. 7 Term B Consenting Lender” shall mean each Lender that provided the Administrative Agent with a counterpart to Amendment No. 7 executed by such Lender and whose name appears on Schedule C attached thereto.
“Amendment No. 8” means Amendment No. 8 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, by and among the Parent Borrower, Initial Holdings, New Holdings, Intermediate Holdings and the Administrative Agent.
“Amendment No. 8 Effective Date” shall mean December [•]28, 2023.
“Amendment No. 9” means Incremental Facility Amendment No. 6 and Amendment No. 9 to this Agreement, dated as of the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Amendment No. 9 Effective Date” shall mean May 16, 2024.
“Applicable Discount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iii).
“Applicable Lending Office” means for any Lender, such Lender’s office, branch or affiliate designated for Term Benchmark Loans of the applicable currency, Base Rate Loans, L/C Advances, Swing Line Loans or Letters of Credit, as applicable, as notified to the Administrative Agent, any of which offices may be changed by such Lender.
“Applicable Percentage” means, at any time (a) with respect to any Lender with a Commitment of any Class, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of
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such Lender’s Commitment of such Class at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of all Commitments of such Class of all Lenders (provided that (i) in the case of Section 2.16 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility shall be determined by disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages of the Lenders shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect) and (b) with respect to the Loans of any Class, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Outstanding Amount of the Loans of such Class and the denominator of which is the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans of such Class.
“Applicable Rate” means a percentage per annum equal to:
(a)(i) for Term Benchmark Loans that are Term B-5 Loans, 2.25%, and (ii) for Base Rate Loans that are Term B-5 Loans, 1.25%,
(b)[reserved],
(c)following the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, (i) until delivery of financial statements and a related Compliance Certificate for the first full fiscal quarter commencing on or after the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date pursuant to Section 6.01, for Pro Rata Loans, letter of credit fees and Commitment Fees, the pricing levels set forth under Pricing Level II below and (ii) thereafter, in connection with Revolving Credit Loans and Term A Loans, the percentages per annum set forth in the table below, based upon the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):
Applicable Rate
Pricing Level | First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio | Letter of Credit Fees | Base Rate Loans | Term Benchmark Loans | RFR Loans | Commitment Fees | ||||||||||||||
| I | > 3.50x | 1.50% | 0.50% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 0.15% | ||||||||||||||
| II | < 3.50x but > 3.00x | 1.25% | 0.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 0.15% | ||||||||||||||
| III | < 3.00x but > 2.00x | 1.00% | 0.00% | 1.00% | 1.00% | 0.15% | ||||||||||||||
| IV | <2.00x | 0.75% | 0.00% | 0.75% | 0.75% | 0.15% | ||||||||||||||
Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (c) above resulting from a change in the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above in this definition or elsewhere in this Agreement, if it is subsequently determined that the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio set forth in any Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent is inaccurate for any reason and the result thereof is that the Lenders received interest or fees for any period based on an Applicable Rate that is less than that which would have been applicable had the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio been accurately determined, then, for all purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Rate” for any
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day occurring within the period covered by such Compliance Certificate shall retroactively be deemed to be the relevant percentage as based upon the accurately determined First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio for such period, and any shortfall in the interest or fees theretofore paid by the Parent Borrower for the relevant period pursuant to Section 2.08 and Section 2.09 as a result of the miscalculation of the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be (and shall be) due and payable under the relevant provisions of Section 2.08 or Section 2.09, as applicable, at the time the interest or fees for such period were required to be paid pursuant to such Section (and shall remain due and payable until paid in full, together with all amounts owing under Section 2.08 (other than Section 2.08(b)), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as an Event of Default described in Section 8.01(f) has not occurred with respect to the Parent Borrower, such shortfall shall be due and payable five (5) Business Days following the determination described above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Rate in respect of any Class of Additional Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and any Incremental Term Loans, Extended Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be the applicable percentages per annum set forth in the relevant Incremental Facility Amendment or Extension Offer.
“Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class, (b) with respect to any Letters of Credit, (i) the relevant L/C Issuer and (ii) the Revolving Credit Lenders and (c) with respect to the Swing Line Facility, (i) the Swing Line Lender and (ii) if any Swing Line Loans are outstanding pursuant to Section 2.04(a), the Revolving Credit Lenders.
“Approved Foreign Bank” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Cash Equivalents.”
“Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender, any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages such Lender.
“Asset Percentage” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(ii).
“Assignees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(b).
“Assignment and Assumption” means (a) an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit E and (b) in the case of any assignment of Term Loans in connection with a Permitted Debt Exchange conducted in accordance with Section 2.17, such form of assignment (if any) as may have been requested by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.17(a)(viii) or, in each case, any other form (including electronic documentation generated by MarkitClear or other electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.
“Audited Financial Statements” means (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets of each of THI and BKW as of the last day of each of the three most recent fiscal years ended at least 90 days
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prior to the Closing Date and (ii) the related audited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of each of THI and BKW for each of the three most recent fiscal years ended at least 90 days prior to the Closing Date.
“Authorized Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 10.14(c).
“Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).
“Availability Period” means, with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility and the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, with respect to the New Revolving Facility, the period from the Incremental Amendment No. 3 Effective Date to the Maturity Date for the New Revolving Facility, with respect to the 2019 Revolving Facility, the period from the Incremental Amendment No. 4 Closing Date to the Maturity Date for the 2019 Revolving Facility and with respect to the 2021 Revolving Facility, the period from the Amendment No. 6 Effective Date to the Maturity Date for the 2021 Revolving Facility, the period from the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date to the Maturity Date for the 2023 Revolving Facility.
“Available Amount” means, at any time (the “Available Amount Reference Time”), an amount (which shall not be less than zero) equal to the sum of:
(a)the greater of (x) $1,000,000,000 and (y) 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period; plus
(b)50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period from the first day of the fiscal quarter of Holdings during which the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date occurred to and including the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of Holdings prior to the Available Amount Reference Time; plus
(c)the amount of any capital contributions or Net Cash Proceeds from any Permitted Equity Issuance (or issuance of debt securities that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Equity Interests) (other than any Cure Amount or any other capital contributions or equity or debt issuances to the extent utilized in connection with other transactions permitted pursuant to Section 7.02, Section 7.06 or Section 7.08) received by or made to Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof and contributed by such parent to Holdings) during the period from and including the Business Day immediately following the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; plus
(d)the aggregate amount of Retained Declined Proceeds during the period from the Business Day immediately following the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; plus
(e)to the extent not (i) already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) already reflected as a return of capital or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment pursuant to clause (g) below or any other provision of Section 7.02, the aggregate amount of all cash dividends and other cash distributions received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from any JV Entity or Unrestricted Subsidiaries or, to the extent of any distribution to a Loan Party of amounts not attributable to Disregarded Assets as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower, Designated Non-
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Guarantors, during the period from the Business Day immediately following the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; plus
(f)to the extent not (i) already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) already reflected as a return of capital or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment pursuant to clause (g) below or any other provision of Section 7.02, or (iii) used to prepay Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii), the aggregate amount of all Net Cash Proceeds received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the sale, transfer or other disposition of its ownership interest in any JV Entity or Unrestricted Subsidiary or, to the extent of amounts received by a Loan Party and not attributable to Disregarded Assets, Designated Non-Guarantors during the period from the Business Day immediately following the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time; minus
(g)the aggregate amount of (i) any Investments made pursuant to Section 7.02(n) (net of any return of capital in respect of such Investment or deemed reduction in the amount of such Investment, including, without limitation, upon the redesignation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of any such Investment), (ii) any Restricted Payment made pursuant to Section 7.06(k) and (iii) any payments made pursuant to Section 7.08(a)(iii)(B), in each case, during the period commencing on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date through and including the Available Amount Reference Time (and, for purposes of this clause (g), without taking account of the intended usage of the Available Amount at such Available Amount Reference Time).
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Agreed Currency, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 3.02(b)(v).
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United State Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person or its parent entity becomes (other than via an Undisclosed Administration) the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency
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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 appointed for 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 proceeding or appointment, 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, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person 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 Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person or its parent entity.
“Base Rate” means:
(1)with respect to Dollar-denominated Loans, a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the highest of:
(i)the Prime Rate on such day;
(ii)½ of 1.00% per annum above the NYFRB Rate;
(iii)the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for Dollar deposits for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days Prior to such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1.00%; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. Chicago time on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology); and
(iv)1.00% per annum.
Any change in the Base Rate for Dollar-denominated Loans due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively; and
(2)with respect to Canadian Dollar-denominated Loans, means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effectthe rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate equal to the PRIMCAN Index rate that appears on the Bloomberg screen at 10:15 a.m. Toronto time on such day (or, in the event that the PRIMCAN Index is not published by Bloomberg, any other information services that publishes such index from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the highest of:as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that if the rates above shall be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.
(a) the annual rate of interest announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch as being its reference rate then in effect for determining interest rates on Canadian Dollar-denominated commercial loans made by it in Canada; and
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(b) the CDOR Rate for a one-month term in effect from time to time plus 1.00% per annum.
Any change in the Base Rate for Canadian Dollar denominated Loans due to a change in the reference rate referred to in clause (a) above or the CDOR Rate referred to in clause (b) abovePRIMCAN Index shall be effective from and including the effective date inof such change in the PRIMCAN Index.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Base Rate.
“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any (i) RFR Loan in any Agreed Currency, the applicable Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency or (ii) Term Benchmark Loan, the Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event or a Term CORRA Reelection 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 Section 3.02(b)(ii).
“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that, in the case of any Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency (other than Canadian Dollars), “Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the alternative set forth in (2) below:
(1)(x) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, and (y) in the case of any Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Canadian Dollars;
(2)the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor 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;
provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Term CORRA Reelection Event, and the delivery of a Term CORRA Notice, on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date, the “Benchmark Replacement” shall revert to and shall be deemed to be Term CORRA.
If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such 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 Parent Borrower for the
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applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant 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 Loan denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “RFR Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Parent Borrower, decides in its reasonable discretion 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, in consultation with the Parent Borrower, 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 all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(2)in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the 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 any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.; or
(3)in the case of a Term CORRA Reelection Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the date a Term CORRA Notice (if any) is provided to the Lenders and the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.02(b).
For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the
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Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (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 all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);
(2)a public statement or publication of information by 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 CME 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 all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(3)a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative (other than the public announcement made by the Financial Conduct Authority on March 5, 2021 regarding the future cessation of certain LIBOR tenors).
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 each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“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 3.02(b) 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 3.02(b).
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“Berkshire Hathaway” means Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and its Affiliates and funds or partnerships managed by it or any of its Affiliates, but not including, however, any of their portfolio companies.
“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.
“Bill 28” has the meaning specified in Section 10.23(i).
“BKW” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrowers” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and a reference to a “Borrower” means either the Parent Borrower or the Subsidiary Borrower.
“Borrowing” means Loans of the same Class, Type and currency, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
“Borrowing Minimum” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, $2,500,000, (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, C$2,500,000 and (c) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euro, €2,500,000.
“Borrowing Multiple” means (a) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, $100,000, (b) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, C$100,000 and (c) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Euro, €100,000.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that (a) when used in connection with any Loan or Letter of Credit denominated in any Alternative Currency, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in such Alternative Currency, in London, (b) when used in connection with a Loan or Letter of Credit denominated in Euro and in relation to the calculation or computation of EURIBOR, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day that is not a TARGET Day, (c) when used in connection with a Loan or Letter of Credit denominated in Canadian Dollars and in relation to the calculation or computation of CORRA or clause (2) of the definition of “Base Rate”, the term “Business Day” shall also excludebe any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which commercial banks in Toronto, Canada are authorized or required by law to remain closedare open for business in Canada and (d) when used in connection with any RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings in the applicable Agreed Currency of such RFR Loan, shall also exclude any day that is not an RFR Business Day.
“Buy/Sell Arrangement” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.05(i).
“Canadian Advertising Fund Subsidiary” means Tim Hortons Advertising and Promotion Fund (Canada) Inc.
“Canadian Dollars” or “C$” means lawful currency of Canada.
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“Canadian Security Agreement” means, collectively, the (a) General Security Agreement executed by the Loan Parties party thereto on the Closing Date substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 as supplemented by any Security Agreement Supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.10 and (b) in respect of personal or movable property located in the Province of Quebec or any grantor organized or domiciled in the Province of Quebec, (i) any notarial deed of hypothec, and, if applicable, (ii) any bond pledge agreement and (iii) any bond, in each case, executed and delivered from time to time.
“Canadian Tax Act” means the Income Tax Act (Canada), as amended.
“Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of, without duplication, (a) all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including Capitalized Research and Development Costs and Capitalized Software Expenditures) by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be included as additions during such period to property, plant or equipment reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) Capitalized Lease Obligations incurred by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period.
“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Capitalized Leases” means all leases that 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; provided that all obligations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are or would be characterized as an operating lease as determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date (whether or not such operating lease was in effect on such date) shall continue to be accounted for as an operating lease (and not as a Capitalized Lease) for purposes of this Agreement regardless of any change in GAAP following the Closing Date that would otherwise require such obligation to be recharacterized as a Capitalized Lease.
“Capitalized Research and Development Costs” means research and development costs that are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, capitalized.
“Capitalized Software Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities) by a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of purchased software or internally developed software and software enhancements that, in conformity with GAAP, are or are required to be reflected as capitalized costs on the consolidated balance sheet of a Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Cash Collateral” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).
“Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).
“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary:
(1)Dollars and Canadian Dollars;
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(2)securities issued or directly and fully and unconditionally guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing the securities of which are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of such government with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(3)certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, with any domestic or foreign commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000 in the case of U.S. banks and $100,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent as of the date of determination) in the case of non-U.S. banks;
(4)repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (7) of this definition entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;
(5)commercial paper rated at least “P-1” by Moody’s or at least “A-1” by S&P, and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation thereof and Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s, with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(6)marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least “P-2” or “A-2” from either Moody’s or S&P, respectively (or, if at any time neither Moody’s nor S&P shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by the Parent Borrower) and in each case maturing within 24 months after the date of creation or acquisition thereof;
(7)readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, any province or territory of Canada or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(8)readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having an Investment Grade Rating from Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 24 months or less from the date of acquisition;
(9)Investments with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated within the top three ratings category by S&P or Moody’s;
(10)with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, Holdings, Initial Holdings, Intermediate Holdings or the Parent Borrower: (i) obligations of the national government of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary, Parent Guarantor or the Parent Borrower maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in each case maturing within one year after the date of investment therein, (ii) certificates of deposit of, bankers acceptances of, or time deposits with, any commercial bank which is organized and existing under the laws of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary, Parent Guarantor or the Parent Borrower maintains its chief executive office and principal place of business provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least
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“P-1” or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Foreign Bank”), and in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition and (iii) the equivalent of demand deposit accounts which are maintained with an Approved Foreign Bank;
(11)Cash Equivalents of the types described in clauses (1) through (10) above denominated in Dollars or, solely to the extent held in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes, any Alternative Currency; and
(a)investment funds investing at least 90% of their assets in Cash Equivalents of the types described in clauses (1) through (11) above.
“Cash Management Bank” means any Lender, any Agent or any Affiliate of the foregoing on the Closing Date or at the time it provides any treasury, depository, credit or debit card, purchasing card, and/or cash management services or automated clearing house transfers of funds to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or conducting any automated clearing house transfers of funds.
“Cash Management Obligations” means obligations owed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Cash Management Bank in respect of any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository, credit or debit card, purchasing card, or cash management services or any automated clearing house transfers of funds.
“Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.
“CBR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Central Bank Rate.
“CBR Spread” means the Applicable Rate applicable to such Loan that is replaced by a CBR Loan.
“CDOR Rate” means on any day, with respect to a particular term as specified herein, an annual rate of interest equal to the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate quoted by Refinitiv Benchmarks Services (UK) Limited for the applicable period as at approximately 10:15 a.m. on such day, or if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day (as adjusted by the Administrative Agent after 10:15 a.m. to reflect any error in any posted rate of interest); provided that:
(a) subject to Section 3.02(b), if such rate is not quoted on such day as contemplated, then the CDOR Rate on such day shall be calculated as the rate for such period applicable to Canadian Dollar bankers’ acceptances quoted by the Administrative Agent as at approximately 10:15 a.m. on such day or, if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day; and
(b) in no event shall the CDOR Rate for any Interest Period be less than the Floor.
“Central Bank Rate” means, (A) the greater of (i) for any Loan denominated in (a) Euro, one of the following three rates as may be selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion: (1) the fixed rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any
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successor thereto), or, if that rate is not published, the minimum bid rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), each as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time, (2) the rate for the marginal lending facility of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time or (3) the rate for the deposit facility of the central banking system of the Participating Member States, as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time and (b) any other Revolving Alternative Currency determined after the Effective Date, a central bank rate as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion and (ii) the Floor; plus (B) the applicable Central Bank Rate Adjustment.
“Central Bank Rate Adjustment” means, for any day, for any Loan denominated in (a) Euro, a rate equal to the difference (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) of (i) the average of the EURIBOR Rate for the five most recent Business Days preceding such day for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest EURIBOR Rate applicable during such period of five Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Euro in effect on the last Business Day in such period and (b) any other Revolving Alternative Currency determined after the Effective Date, a Central Bank Rate Adjustment as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion. For purposes of this definition, (x) the term Central Bank Rate shall be determined disregarding clause (B) of the definition of such term and (y) the EURIBOR Rate on any day shall be based on the EURIBOR Screen Rate on such day at approximately the time referred to in the definition of such term for deposits in the applicable Agreed Currency for a maturity of one month.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.
“Change of Control” means the earlier to occur of:
(a)the Permitted Holders ceasing to have the power, directly or indirectly, to vote or direct the voting of securities having a majority of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managers or other governing body of Holdings; provided that the occurrence of the foregoing event shall not be deemed a Change of Control for so long as no “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Permitted Holders and any direct or indirect holding company formed for purposes of directly or indirectly holding Equity Interests of Holdings, shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under such Act), directly or indirectly, of more than the greater of (x) thirty-five percent (35%) of the then outstanding voting stock of Holdings, and (y) the percentage of the then outstanding voting stock of Holdings owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially by the Permitted Holders;
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(b)Holdings ceasing to own or control, either directly or indirectly, 100% of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Parent Borrower; or
(c)the occurrence of a “Change of Control” (or similar event, however denominated), as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture or the New Senior Secured Notes Indenture.
“Class” (a) when used with respect to Lenders, refers to whether such Lenders hold a particular Class of Commitments or Loans, (b) when used with respect to Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Revolving Credit Commitments, Term A Commitments, Term B-1 Commitments, Additional Term B-3 Commitments, Additional Incremental Term B-3 Commitments, Second Additional Term B-3 Commitments, Additional Term B-4 Commitments, Additional Term B-5 Commitments, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments that are designated as an additional Class of Commitments, Additional Revolving Credit Commitments that are designated as an additional Class of Commitments or commitments in respect of any Incremental Term Loans that are designated as an additional Class of Term Loans and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Credit Loans, Term A Loans, Term B-1 Loans, Term B-2 Loans, Term B-3 Loans, Term B-4 Loans, Term B-5 Loans, Extended Term Loans that are designated as an additional Class of Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans that are designated as an additional Class of Term Loans or Swing Line Loans and any Loans made pursuant to any other Class of Commitments.
“Closing Date” means the date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.
“CME 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).
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral” means all the “Collateral” as defined in the Collateral Documents and all other property of whatever kind and nature pledged or charged as collateral under any Collateral Document, and shall include the Mortgaged Properties.
“Collateral Agent” means JPMCB, in its capacity as collateral agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent appointed in accordance with Section 9.09.
“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, the requirement that:
(d)the Collateral Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii), or thereafter pursuant to Section 6.10 or Section 6.12, duly executed by each Loan Party that is a party thereto;
(e)all Obligations shall have been unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), jointly and severally, by Holdings (in the absence of any Intermediate Holding Company), any Intermediate Holding Company, Parent Guarantor and each Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) including as of the Closing Date those that are listed on Schedule 1.01D hereto (each, a “Guarantor”);
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(f)the Obligations and the Guarantees shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreements or other applicable Collateral Document by a first-priority security interest in (i) all the Equity Interests of the Parent Borrower and (ii) all Equity Interests (other than Excluded Equity) held directly by either Borrower, Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary Guarantor in any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, in each case subject to (x) those Liens permitted under Sections 7.01(b), (o), (w) (solely with respect to modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions of Liens permitted by Sections 7.01(b) and (o)) and (dd) and (y) any nonconsensual Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01;
(g)except to the extent otherwise provided hereunder or under any Collateral Document, the Obligations and the Guarantees shall have been secured by a perfected security interest (other than in the case of mortgages, to the extent such security interest may be perfected by delivering certificated securities and instruments, filing personal property financing statements or other similar documentation, or making any necessary filings with the (i) United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office and (ii) the Canadian Intellectual Property Office) in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible and intangible assets of Holdings, each Borrower, any Intermediate Holding Company and each other Guarantor (including, without limitation, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, investment property, intellectual property, intercompany receivables, other general intangibles, owned (but not leased) real property and proceeds of the foregoing), in each case, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents; provided that security interests in real property shall be limited to the Mortgaged Properties;
(h)none of the Collateral shall be subject to any Liens other than Permitted Liens;
(i)the Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Material Real Property required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii) (if applicable), Section 6.10, and/or Section 6.12, as applicable, duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, (ii) a title insurance policy for such Mortgaged Property (or marked-up title insurance commitment having the effect of a title insurance policy) (the “Mortgage Policies”) insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid first priority Lien on the property described therein, free of any other Liens except Permitted Liens, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and to the extent available in each applicable jurisdiction, (iii) a Survey with respect to each Mortgaged Property, provided, however, that a Survey shall not be required to the extent that (A) an existing survey together with an “affidavit of no change” satisfactory to the Title Company is delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Title Company and (B) the Title Company removes the standard survey exception and provides reasonable and customary survey-related endorsements and other coverages in the applicable Mortgage Policy, (iv) a completed “Life-of-Loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency standard flood hazard determination with respect to each Mortgaged Property (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the applicable Loan Party relating thereto), (v) a copy of, or a certificate as to coverage under, and a declaration page relating to, the flood insurance policies required by Section 6.06 hereof, each of which (A) shall be endorsed or otherwise amended to name the Collateral Agent as mortgagee and loss payee, (B) shall (1) identify the addresses of each property located in a special flood hazard area, (2) indicate the applicable flood zone designation, the flood insurance coverage and the deductible relating thereto and (3) provide that the insurer will give the Collateral Agent 45 days written notice of cancellation or non-renewal and (4) shall be otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent,
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and (iv) such existing abstracts, existing appraisals, legal opinions and other documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request with respect to any such Mortgaged Property; and
(j)in the event any Guarantor is added that is organized in a Covered Jurisdiction, other than the US or Canada, such Loan Party shall grant a perfected lien on substantially all of its assets (other than Excluded Property) pursuant to arrangements reasonably agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower subject to customary limitations in such Covered Jurisdiction to be reasonably agreed to between the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower.
The foregoing definition shall not require the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys with respect to, particular assets (i) if and for so long as the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower agree in writing that the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets or obtaining title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom and (ii) to the extent the creation or perfection of pledges of or security interests in such assets, or the obtaining of title insurance or surveys in respect of such assets, in a particular Covered Jurisdiction (other than the United States) is inconsistent in scope with the pledges or security interests created or perfected, or title insurance or surveys obtained, on or around the Closing Date (and after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.10 or 6.12, as applicable) in such Covered Jurisdiction (other than the United States), other than due to changes in law in the applicable jurisdiction or as a result of an acquisition of material assets in a new Province in Canada.
The Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of title insurance and surveys with respect to particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date for the perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties on such date) where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Parent Borrower, that perfection cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary:
(A) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in the Collateral Documents and, to the extent appropriate in the applicable jurisdiction, as agreed between the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower;
(B) the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall not apply to any Excluded Property;
(C) no deposit account control agreement, securities account control agreement or other control agreements or control arrangements shall be required with respect to any deposit account, securities account or other asset specifically requiring perfection through control agreements;
(D) no actions in any jurisdiction other than the Covered Jurisdictions or that are necessary to comply with the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the Covered Jurisdictions shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located, titled, registered or filed outside of the Covered Jurisdictions or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that
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there shall be no security agreements, pledge agreements, or share charge (or mortgage) agreements governed under the Laws of any jurisdiction other than the Covered Jurisdictions);
(E) general statutory limitations, financial assistance, corporate benefit, capital maintenance rules, fraudulent preference, “thin capitalization” rules, retention of title claims and similar principle may limit the ability of a Foreign Subsidiary to provide a Guarantee or Collateral or may require that the Guarantee or Collateral be limited by an amount or otherwise, in each case as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent; and
(F) no stock certificates of Immaterial Subsidiaries shall be required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent.
“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Escrow Agreement, the Security Agreements, the Mortgages, each of the mortgages, collateral assignments, Security Agreement Supplements, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii), Section 6.10 or Section 6.12, the Guaranty and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien or Guarantee in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
“Commitment” means a Term Commitment, a Revolving Credit Commitment, an Extended Revolving Credit Commitment or an Additional Revolving Credit Commitment.
“Commitment Fee” has the meaning provided in Section 2.09(a).
“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Term Borrowing, (b) a Revolving Credit Borrowing, (c) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (d) a continuation of Term Benchmark Loans pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
“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.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” has the meaning specified in the Acquisition Agreement.
“Compensation Period” has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(c)(ii).
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
“Compliance Date” means the last day of any fiscal quarter of Holdings (commencing with the last day of the first full fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower commencing after the Incremental Amendment No. 6 Closing Date) if on such date (i) any Term A Loans or Term A Commitments are outstanding and/or (ii) the sum of (x) Letters of Credit with an aggregate Outstanding Amount in excess of $50,000,000 (other than those Cash Collateralized in an amount equal to the Outstanding Amount thereof), (y) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans and (z) the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans exceeds 30.0% of the Revolving Credit Commitments as of such date.
“Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the
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amortization of deferred financing fees or costs, capitalized fees related to any Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivables Financing, capitalized expenditures, customer acquisition costs and incentive payments, conversion costs and contract acquisition costs, the amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par and amortization of favorable or unfavorable lease assets or liabilities, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period:
(a)increased (without duplication) by the following:
(i) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without limitation, state franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes of such Person paid or accrued during such period, including any penalties and interest relating to any tax examinations, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus
(ii) Fixed Charges of such Person for such period (including (x) net losses or any obligations under any Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate, currency or commodities risk, (y) bank fees and (z) costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities, to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in calculating such Consolidated Net Income); plus
(iii) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same were deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus
(iv) any expenses or charges (other than depreciation or amortization expense) related to any equity offering, Investment, acquisition, disposition or recapitalization permitted hereunder or the incurrence of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including (A) such fees, expenses or charges related to the offering of the Senior Secured Notes, this Agreement and any other credit facilities, any Securitization Fees and (B) any amendment or other modification of the Senior Secured Notes, Permitted Receivables Financing, Securitization Facilities, this Agreement and any other credit facilities, in each case, deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income; plus
(v) the amount of any restructuring charge or reserve, integration cost or other business optimization expense or cost that is deducted (and not added back) in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, including any one-time costs incurred in connection with acquisitions or divestitures after the Closing Date, and costs related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities and to exiting lines of business; plus
(vi) any other non-cash charges, write-downs, expenses, losses or items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period including any impairment charges or the impact of purchase accounting, (excluding any such non-cash charge, write-down or item to the extent it represents an accrual or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period) or other items classified by Holdings as special items less other non-cash items of income
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increasing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-cash item of income to the extent it represents a receipt of cash in any future period); plus
(vii) the amount of any minority interest expense consisting of Subsidiary income attributable to minority equity interests of third parties in any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; plus
(viii) the amount of “run-rate” cost savings and synergies projected by the Parent Borrower in good faith to result from actions taken or to be taken prior to or during such period (which cost savings or synergies shall be subject only to certification by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower or Holdings and shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings or synergies had been realized on the first day of such period), net of the amount of actual benefits realized prior to or during such period from such actions; provided that a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower or Holdings shall have certified to the Administrative Agent that (x) such cost savings or synergies are reasonably identifiable, reasonably attributable to the actions specified and reasonably anticipated to result from such actions and (y) such actions have been taken or are to be taken within eighteen (18) months (or, in connection with the Transactions, within twenty-four (24) months of the Closing Date); plus
(ix) any costs or expense incurred by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of Holdings or Net Cash Proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Holdings; plus
(x) with respect to any JV Entity, an amount equal to the proportion of those items described in clauses (i) and (iii) above relating to such JV Entity’s corresponding to Holdings’ and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of such JV Entity’s Consolidated Net Income (determined as if such JV Entity were a Restricted Subsidiary); plus
(xi) the amount of any loss attributable to a new plant or facility until the date that is twenty-four (24) months after the date of commencement of construction or the date of acquisition thereof, as the case may be; provided that (A) such losses are reasonably identifiable and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower or Holdings, (B) losses attributable to such plant or facility after twenty-four (24) months from the date of commencement of construction or the date of acquisition of such plant or facility, as the case may be, shall not be included in this clause (xi) and (C) no amounts shall be added pursuant to this clause (xi) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings that are included in clause (viii) above with respect to such period; plus
(xii) cash receipts (or any netting arrangements resulting in reduced cash expenditures) not representing Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Net Income in any period to the extent non-cash gains relating to such income were deducted in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to paragraph (b) below for any previous period and not added back; plus
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(xiii)any net loss included in Consolidated Net Income attributable to non-controlling interests pursuant to the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 810-10-45; plus
(xiv) realized foreign exchange losses resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus
(xv) net realized losses from Swap Contracts or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standard Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements; plus
(xvi) the amount of management, advisory, consulting, refinancing subsequent transaction and exit fees (including termination fees) and related indemnities and expenses paid or accrued in such period to the Sponsor to the extent permitted hereunder; plus
(xvii)the amount of loss on sale of Securitization Assets and related assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivables Financing;
(b)decreased (without duplication) by the following:
(i) non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, excluding any non-cash gains to the extent they represent the reversal of an accrual or cash reserve for a potential cash item that reduced Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period and any non-cash gains with respect to cash actually received in a prior period so long as such cash did not increase Consolidated EBITDA in such prior period; plus
(ii) realized foreign exchange income or gains resulting from the impact of foreign currency changes on the valuation of assets or liabilities on the balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries; plus
(iii) any net realized income or gains from any obligations under any Swap Contracts or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standard Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements; plus
(iv) any amount included in Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period attributable to non-controlling interests pursuant to the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 810-10-45;
(c)increased or decreased (without duplication) by, as applicable, any adjustments resulting from the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 460 or any comparable regulation; and
(d)increased or decreased (to the extent not already included in determining Consolidated EBITDA) by any Pro Forma Adjustment.
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There shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, without duplication, (A) the Acquired EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset acquired by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person, property, business or assets to the extent not so acquired), to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset acquired and not subsequently so disposed of, an “Acquired Entity or Business”), and the Acquired EBITDA of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is converted into a Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Restricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition), (B) an adjustment in respect of each Acquired Entity or Business equal to the amount of the Pro Forma Adjustment with respect to such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) as specified in a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer and delivered to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and (C) the annualized effect (including franchise fees net of the incremental costs of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries relating to such franchise arrangements, in the case of franchised stores) of restaurant openings during such period (whether company owned or franchised) by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any restaurant opened subsequent to the first day of the applicable period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being determined. For purposes of determining the Consolidated EBITDA for any period, there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period the Disposed EBITDA of any Person, property, business or asset (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, closed or classified as discontinued operations by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (each such Person, property, business or asset so sold or disposed of, a “Sold Entity or Business”) and the Disposed EBITDA of any Restricted Subsidiary that is converted into an Unrestricted Subsidiary during such period (each, a “Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary”), based on the actual Disposed EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition). Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to any adjustment set forth above with respect to any transactions occurring after the Closing Date, Consolidated EBITDA shall be $398.2 million, $331.5 million, $393.1 million and $380.8 million for the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2014, March 31, 2014, December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, respectively.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, without duplication, the sum of:
(1)consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted (and not added back) in computing Consolidated Net Income (including (a) amortization of original issue discount or premium resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par, (b) all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances, (c) non-cash interest payments, (d) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, (e) Securitization Fees and (e) net payments, if any, pursuant to interest rate obligations under any Swap Contracts with respect to Indebtedness); plus
(2)consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; less
(3)interest income for such period.
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For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis on the basis of GAAP; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:
(1)any net income (loss) of any Person if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that Holdings’ equity in the net income of any such Person for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed (or, so long as such Person is not (x) a joint venture with outstanding third party indebtedness for borrowed money or (y) an Unrestricted Subsidiary, that (as reasonably determined by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower) could have been distributed by such Person during such period to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary) as a dividend or other distribution or return on investment, subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution or return on investment to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (2) below;
(2)solely for the purpose of determining the Available Amount, any net income (loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to a Borrower or a Guarantor by operation of the terms of such Restricted Subsidiary’s charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute or governmental rule or regulation applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its shareholders (other than (a) restrictions that have been waived or otherwise released and (b) restrictions pursuant to the Loan Documents or the Senior Secured Notes Indenture), except that Holdings’ equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents actually distributed or that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to Holdings or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained above in this clause);
(3)any net gain (or loss) from disposed, abandoned or discontinued operations and any net gain (or loss) on disposal of disposed, discontinued or abandoned operations;
(4)any net gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any asset (including pursuant to any sale/leaseback transaction) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer or the board of directors of the Parent Borrower or Holdings);
(5)any extraordinary, exceptional, unusual, nonrecurring or infrequently occurring gain, loss, charge or expense (including relating to the Transaction Expenses), or any charges, expenses or reserves in respect of any restructuring, relocation, redundancy or severance expense, new product introductions or one-time compensation charges;
(6)the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles;
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(7)any (i) non-cash compensation charge or expense arising from any grant of stock, stock options or other equity based awards and any non-cash deemed finance charges in respect of any pension liabilities or other provisions and (ii) income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts;
(8)all deferred financing costs written off and premiums paid or other expenses incurred directly in connection with any early extinguishment of Indebtedness and any net gain (loss) from any write-off or forgiveness of Indebtedness;
(9)any unrealized gains or losses in respect of any obligations under any Swap Contracts or any ineffectiveness recognized in earnings related to hedge transactions or the fair value of changes therein recognized in earnings for derivatives that do not qualify as hedge transactions, in each case, in respect of any obligations under any Swap Contracts;
(10)any unrealized foreign currency translation gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness of any Person denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of such Person and any unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses relating to translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies;
(11)any unrealized foreign currency translation or transaction gains or losses in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(12)any purchase accounting effects including, but not limited to, adjustments to inventory, property and equipment, software and other intangible assets and deferred revenue in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP and related authoritative pronouncements (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries), as a result of any consummated acquisition, or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof (including any write-off of in process research and development);
(13)any impairment charge, write-down or write-off, including impairment charges, write-downs or write-offs relating to goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets, investments in debt and equity securities or as a result of a change in law or regulation;
(14)any after-tax effect of income (loss) from the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness or any obligations under any Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments;
(15)accruals and reserves that are established within twelve months after the Closing Date that are so required to be established as a result of the Transaction in accordance with GAAP;
(16)any net unrealized gains and losses resulting from Swap Contracts or embedded derivatives that require similar accounting treatment and the application of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815 and related pronouncements;
(17)the amount of loss or discount on sale of Securitization Assets and related assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing, or Permitted Receivables Financing; and
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(18)any deferred tax expense associated with tax deductions or net operating losses arising as a result of the Transactions, or the release of any valuation allowance related to such item.
In addition, to the extent not already included in the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall include (i) any expenses and charges that are reimbursed by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted hereunder and (ii) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Parent Borrower or Holdings has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (A) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (B) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption.
“Consolidated Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transaction or any Permitted Acquisition), consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money, Capitalized Lease Obligations and debt obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents (in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than any nonconsensual Lien that is permitted under the Loan Documents, Liens of the Collateral Agent and Liens that are subordinated to or pari passu with the Liens of the Collateral Agent pursuant to a Customary Intercreditor Agreement) included in the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, which aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents shall be determined without giving pro forma effect to the proceeds of Indebtedness incurred on such date; provided that Consolidated Total Debt shall not include (x) Letters of Credit (or other letters of credit), except to the extent of Unreimbursed Amounts (or unreimbursed amounts) thereunder, (y) obligations under Swap Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes and (z) Indebtedness in respect of any Permitted Receivables Financing.
“Consolidated Working Capital” means, at any date, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) all amounts (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date and (ii) long-term accounts receivable over (b) the sum of (i) all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date and (ii) long-term deferred revenue, but excluding, without duplication, (a) the current portion of any Funded Debt or other long-term liabilities, (b) all Indebtedness consisting of Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations to the extent otherwise included therein, (c) the current portion of interest, (d) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes, (e) the current portion of any Capitalized Lease Obligations, (f) deferred revenue arising from cash receipts that are earmarked for specific projects, (g) the current portion of deferred acquisition costs and (h) current accrued costs associated with any restructuring or business optimization (including accrued severance and accrued facility closure costs).
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“Contract Consideration” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow.”
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Affiliate.”
“Converted Restricted Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“Converted Term B-3 Loan” means each Term B-3 Loan held by an Amendment No. 4 Consenting Lender on the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date that has indicated on its counterpart to Amendment No. 4 that it is requesting to have its Term B-3 Loans converted to Term B-4 Loans (or, if less, the amount of such Amendment No. 4 Consenting Lender’s Term B-3 Loan notified to such Lender by the Administrative Agent as such Lender’s Converted Term B-3 Loan).
“Converted Term B-4 Loan” means each Term B-4 Loan held by an Amendment No. 7 Term B Consenting Lender on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date that has indicated on its counterpart to Amendment No. 7 that it is requesting to have its Term B-4 Loans converted to Term B-5 Loans (or, if less, the amount of such Amendment No. 7 Term B Consenting Lender’s Term B-4 Loan notified to such Lender by the Administrative Agent as such Lender’s Converted Term B-4 Loan).
“Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“CORRA” means the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average administered and published by the Bank of Canada (or any successor administrator).
“CORRA Administrator” means the Bank of Canada (or any successor administrator).
“CORRA Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple CORRA.”
“CORRA Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple CORRA.”
“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(1)a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(2)a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
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(3)a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Covered Jurisdiction” means each of the United States (and each State thereof and the District of Columbia), Canada (and each of the provinces and territories thereof) and the jurisdiction of organization of any Restricted Subsidiary that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the last sentence of the definition of “Guarantor.”
“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.26.
“Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.
“Cure Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05.
“Cure Right” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05.
“Customary Intercreditor Agreement” means (a) to the extent executed in connection with any incurrence of Indebtedness secured by Liens on the Collateral that are intended to rank equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations (but without regard to the control of remedies), the New Senior Secured Notes Intercreditor Agreement or any other customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, which agreement shall provide, inter alia, that the Liens on the Collateral securing such other Indebtedness to the extent validly perfected and not subject to other Liens ranking senior to the Liens securing such Indebtedness but junior to the Liens securing the Obligations shall rank equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations (but without regard to the control of remedies), (b) to the extent executed in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness secured by Liens on the Collateral which are intended to rank junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, a customary intercreditor agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, which agreement shall provide that the Liens on the Collateral securing such Indebtedness shall rank junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations and (c) any Ratably Secured Existing Notes Intercreditor Agreement.
“Daily Simple CORRA” means, for any day (a “CORRA Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to CORRA for the day (such day “CORRA Determination Date”) that is five (5) RFR Business Days prior to (i) if such CORRA Rate Day is an RFR Business Day, such CORRA Rate Day or (ii) if such CORRA Rate Day is not an RFR Business Day, the RFR Business Day immediately preceding such CORRA Rate Day, in each case, as such CORRA is published by the CORRA Administrator on the CORRA Administrator’s website. Any change in Daily Simple CORRA due to a change in CORRA shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in CORRA without notice to the Borrower. If by 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on any given CORRA Determination Date, CORRA in respect of such CORRA Determination Date has not been published on the CORRA Administrator’s website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Daily Simple CORRA has not occurred, then CORRA for such CORRA Determination Date will be CORRA as published in respect of the first preceding RFR Business Day for which such CORRA was published on the CORRA Administrator’s website, so long as such first preceding RFR Business Day is not more than five (5) Business Days prior to such CORRA Determination Date.
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“Daily Simple RFR” means, for any day (an “RFR Interest Day”), an interest rate per annum equal to, (i) for any RFR Loan denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR, and (ii) for any RFR Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, Daily Simple CORRA (following a Benchmark Transition Event and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to Term CORRA).
“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day “SOFR Determination Date”) that is five (5) RFR Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is an RFR Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not an RFR Business Day, the RFR Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the Winding Up and Restructuring Act (Canada) and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States, Canada or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Declined Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(v).
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) with respect to any overdue principal for any Loan, the applicable interest rate for such Loan plus 2.00% per annum (provided that with respect to Term Benchmark Loans, the determination of the applicable interest rate is subject to Section 2.02(c) to the extent that Term Benchmark Loans may not be converted to, or continued as, Term Benchmark Loans, pursuant thereto) and (b) with respect to any other overdue amount, including overdue interest, the interest rate applicable to Term B-5 Base Rate Loans plus 2.00% per annum, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
“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 that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans required to be funded by it, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it or (iii) pay over to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender in writing that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a Loan cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, the L/
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C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Administrative Agent’s, L/C Issuer’s, Swing Line Lender’s or Lender’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, (d) after the date of this Agreement, has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event, or (e) has become the subject of a Bail-in Action.
“Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means a non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is not the direct or indirect parent company of any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than a Subsidiary Guarantor whose Guarantee is concurrently released pursuant to Section 9.11(c)) that has been designated to the Administrative Agent as a “Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” pursuant to Section 9.11(c)(ii); provided that, except to the extent of the fair market value of any assets of such Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (i) Investments in Persons that are not Loan Parties or (ii) Specified Assets (the assets in clause (i) and (ii), the “Disregarded Assets”), the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as a Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an Investment by a Loan Party in a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in an amount equal to the fair market value of Holding’s equity ownership of such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower at the time of such designation (and such Investment must be permitted by a provision of Section 7.02 other than clause (z) thereof); provided, further, that if such Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary subsequently becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor it will deemed to be a return of an Investment to a Loan Party from a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to the extent of the fair market value of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s assets at such time as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower except to the extent of the fair market value of any Disregarded Assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower.
“Discount Range” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii).
“Discounted Prepayment Option Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii).
“Discounted Voluntary Prepayment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(i).
“Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(v).
“Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Sold Entity or Business or any Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Sold Entity or Business or such Converted Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any Sale Leaseback and any sale of Equity Interests) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith; provided that (i) “Disposition” and “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by Holdings, any Intermediate Holding Company, any Parent Guarantor or the Parent Borrower of any of its Equity Interests to another Person and (ii) no transaction or series of related transactions shall be considered a “Disposition” for purpose of Section 2.05(b)(ii) or Section 7.05 unless the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower) of the
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property disposed of in such transaction or series of transactions shall exceed the greater of (x) $125,000,000 and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period.
“Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments and all outstanding Letters of Credit), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Equity Interests are issued.
“Disqualified Lenders” means (i) such Persons that have been specified in writing to the Lead Arrangers by the Parent Borrower prior to August 26, 2014 as being “Disqualified Lenders,” (ii) competitors of Holdings and its Subsidiaries that have been specified in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time by the Parent Borrower and (iii) any of their Affiliates (other than in the case of clause (ii), Affiliates that are bona fide debt funds) that are (x) identified in writing from time to time to the Administrative Agent by the Parent Borrower or (y) clearly identifiable on the basis of such Affiliates’ name.
“Disregarded Assets” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.”
“Documentation Agents” means Amendment No. 6 Co-Documentation Agents and, the Amendment No. 7 Co-Documentation Agents and the Additional Term B-5 Co-Documentation Agents (as defined in Amendment No. 9), in their respective capacities as Documentation Agents and each other Person identified as a “documentation agent” or “co-documentation agent” under any Loan Document.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Dollar Equivalent” means, on any date of determination, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount in any other currency, the equivalent in Dollars of such amount, determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, pursuant to Section 1.08 using the Exchange Rate with respect to such currency at the time in effect under the provisions of such Section.
“Domestic Foreign Holding Company” means any Domestic Subsidiary that is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes with no material assets other than Equity Interests and/or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries and other assets incidental thereto.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
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“Earlier Maturing Basket Amount” shall mean, at any time, the excess, if any, of (i) the greater of (x) $2,500,000,000 and (y) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period prior to such date over (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Term Loans, Permitted Alternative Incremental Facilities Debt, Permitted Debt Exchange Notes or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(r) or 7.03(w) and any Permitted Refinancing in respect of any of the foregoing, in each case, then outstanding with a maturity date or Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than the then remaining maturity date or Weighted Average Life to Maturity otherwise permitted.
“ECF Percentage” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i).
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Effective Yield” means, with respect to any term loan facility or other term loans, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) the higher of (A) Adjusted Term SOFR for an Interest Period of one month commencing on such date and (B) the applicable Term Benchmark floor,” if any, with respect thereto as of such date, (ii) the Applicable Rate (or other applicable margin) as of such date for the applicable Term Benchmark Loans (or other loans that accrue interest by reference to a similar reference rate) and (iii) the amount of original issue discount and upfront fees thereon (converted to yield assuming a four-year average life and without any present value discount), but excluding the effect of any arrangement, structuring, syndication or other fees payable in connection therewith that are not shared with all lenders or holders of such term loan facility or other term loans; provided that the amounts set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above for any term loans that are not incurred under this Agreement shall be based on the stated interest rate basis for such term loans.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Assignee permitted by and consented to in accordance with Section 10.07(b).
“Environment” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable Laws relating to pollution, the protection of the environment, natural resources or to the generation, transport, storage, use, treatment, Release or threat of Release of any Hazardous Materials or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities) of any Loan Party or any of its respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation
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of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage or treatment of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure of any Person to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the Environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Contribution” means cash, common or preferred equity contributions by the Investors indirectly to the Parent Borrower consistent with the amount, sources and terms disclosed to the Lead Arrangers prior to August 26, 2014, directly or indirectly, in an aggregate amount equal to $3,000,000,000.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests or units in) 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).
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is under common control with any Loan Party and is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA with respect to a Pension Plan, whether or not waived, or a failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (d) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, notification of any Loan Party or ERISA Affiliate concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or in reorganization within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or in endangered or critical status, within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA; (e) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (g) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate; (h) a determination that any Pension Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303(i)(4)(A) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4)(A) of the Code); or (i) the occurrence of a non-exempt prohibited transaction with respect to any Pension Plan maintained or contributed to by any Loan Party (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could result in liability to any Loan Party.
“Escrow Account” has the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement.
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“Escrow Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as such together with its successors in such capacity pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.
“Escrow Agreement” means the Escrow Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2014, by and among, the Borrower, the Escrow Agent and the Administrative Agent.
“Escrow Closing Date” means October 27, 2014.
“Escrow Property” has the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement.
“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.
“EURIBOR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, the EURIBOR Screen Rate, two TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the EURIBOR 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.
“EURIBOR Screen Rate” means the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate) or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters as published at approximately 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Administrative Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Parent Borrower.
“Euro” and “€” means the lawful currency of the European Union as constituted by the Treaty of Rome which established the European Community, as such treaty may be amended from time to time and as referred to in the European Monetary Union legislation.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Excess Cash Flow” means, for any period, an amount equal to the excess of:
(a)the sum, without duplication, of:
(i) Consolidated Net Income for such period;
(ii) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash charges (including depreciation and amortization) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income;
(iii) decreases in Consolidated Working Capital for such period (other than any such decreases arising from acquisitions by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period or the application of purchase accounting);
(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash loss on Dispositions by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary
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course of business) to the extent deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income; and
(v) cash receipts in respect of Swap Contracts during such period to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income; over
(b)the sum, without duplication, of:
(i) an amount equal to the amount of all non-cash credits included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income and cash charges to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income;
(ii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (x) below in prior fiscal years, the amount of Capital Expenditures or acquisitions made in cash during such period, except to the extent that such Capital Expenditures or acquisitions were financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments of Indebtedness of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including (A) the principal component of Capitalized Lease Obligations and (B) the amount of repayments of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(a) and any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b) to the extent required due to a Disposition that resulted in an increase to such Consolidated Net Income and not in excess of the amount of such increase but excluding (X) all other prepayments of Term Loans, (Y) all prepayments under the Revolving Credit Facility and (Z) all prepayments in respect of any other revolving credit facility, except, in the case of clause (Z), to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder) made during such period, except to the extent financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of other Indebtedness of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(iv) an amount equal to the aggregate net non-cash gain on Dispositions by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period (other than Dispositions in the ordinary course of business) to the extent included in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income;
(v) increases in Consolidated Working Capital for such period (other than any such increases arising from acquisitions by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries completed during such period or the application of purchase accounting);
(vi) cash payments by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness (including such Indebtedness specified in clause (b)(iii) above);
(vii) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (xi) below in prior periods, the amount of Investments and acquisitions made during such period pursuant to Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(a), (d), (n) and (bb)) except to the extent that such Investments and acquisitions were financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(viii) the amount of Restricted Payments paid during such period pursuant to Section 7.06 (other than Section 7.06(a) (solely in respect of amounts paid to Holdings or a
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Restricted Subsidiary), (b) and (k)) except to the extent that such Restricted Payments were financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(ix) the aggregate amount of any premium, make-whole or penalty payments actually paid in cash by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment of Indebtedness except to the extent that such amounts were financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(x) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries in cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period and were not financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(xi) without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into prior to or during such period relating to Permitted Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions to be consummated or made during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Holdings following the end of such period except to the extent intended to be financed with the proceeds of an incurrence or issuance of other Indebtedness of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that to the extent the aggregate amount utilized to finance such Permitted Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures or acquisitions during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall, shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters;
(xii) the amount of cash taxes (including penalties and interest) paid or tax reserves set aside or payable (without duplication) in such period to the extent they exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period; and
(xiii) cash expenditures in respect of Swap Contracts during such fiscal year to the extent not deducted in arriving at such Consolidated Net Income.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Exchange Rate” means, on any day, for purposes of determining the Dollar Equivalent of any currency other than Dollars, the rate at which such other currency may be exchanged into Dollars at the time of determination on such day on the Reuters WRLD Page for such currency. In the event that such rate does not appear on any Reuters WRLD Page, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, or, in the absence of such an agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the arithmetic average of the spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of such currency are then being conducted, at or about such time as the Administrative Agent shall elect after determining that such rates shall be the basis for determining the Exchange Rate, on such date for the purchase of Dollars for
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delivery two Business Days later, provided that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Administrative Agent may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
“Excluded Equity” means Equity Interests (i) of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (ii) of any Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition financed with Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(v) if such Equity Interests are pledged and/or mortgaged as security for such Indebtedness and if and for so long as the terms of such Indebtedness prohibit the creation of any other Lien on such Equity Interests, (iii) of any Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary or Domestic Foreign Holding Company, in each case of a Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings and not otherwise constituting Excluded Equity, in excess of 65% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary or Domestic Foreign Holding Company, (iv) of any Subsidiary with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower have determined in their reasonable judgment and agreed in writing that the costs of providing a pledge of such Equity Interests or perfection thereof is excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Secured Parties therefrom, (v) of any captive insurance companies, not-for-profit Subsidiaries, special purpose entities (including any entity used to effect a Permitted Receivables Financing), (vi) of any Subsidiary outside the United States and Canada the pledge of which is prohibited by applicable Laws or which would reasonably be expected to result in a violation or breach of, or conflict with, fiduciary duties of such Subsidiary’s officers, directors or managers, (vii) of any Securitization Subsidiary and (viii) for so long as it is an Excluded Subsidiary and its Equity Interests are not subject to any Liens securing any Indebtedness in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate, the Canadian Advertising Fund Subsidiary.
“Excluded Property” means (i) any fee-owned real property that is not a Material Real Property and any leasehold interests in real property (it being understood that no action shall be required with respect to creation or perfection of security interests with respect to such leases, including to obtain landlord waivers, estoppels or collateral access letters), (ii) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of a UCC or PPSA financing statement (or analogous procedures under applicable Laws in the relevant Covered Jurisdiction), letter of credit rights to the extent a Lien thereon cannot be perfected by the filing of a UCC or PPSA financing statement (or analogous procedures under applicable Laws in the relevant Covered Jurisdiction) and commercial tort claims, (iii) assets for which a pledge thereof or a security interest therein is prohibited by applicable Laws, (iv) margin stock, (v) any cash and cash equivalents, deposit accounts and securities accounts (including securities entitlements and related assets) (it being understood that this exclusion shall not affect the grant of the Lien on proceeds of Collateral and all proceeds of Collateral shall be Collateral), (vi) any lease, license or other agreements, or any property subject to a purchase money security interest, Capitalized Lease Obligation or similar arrangements, in each case to the extent permitted under the Loan Documents, to the extent that a pledge thereof or a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement, purchase money, Capitalized Lease or similar arrangement, or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than a Borrower or a Guarantor) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment clauses of the Uniform Commercial Code and applicable Laws, other than the proceeds and receivables thereof the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under applicable Laws notwithstanding such prohibition, (vii) any intent-to-use trademark application in the United States prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant, attachment, or enforcement of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark application under applicable Federal law, (viii) Excluded Equity, and (ix) intercompany notes issued by a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Securitization Facility.
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“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) each Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01C hereto, (b) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable Law or by any contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date (or, if later, the date such Subsidiary first becomes a Subsidiary) from guaranteeing the Obligations or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a Guarantee unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (c) any Subsidiary organized in a jurisdiction other than a Covered Jurisdiction, (d) any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent the provision of a Guarantee by such Subsidiary would expose the officers, directors or shareholders of such Subsidiary to individual liability or would result in corporate benefit, financial assistance or similar issues, in each case as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (e) any Restricted Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition that, at the time of such Permitted Acquisition, has assumed secured Indebtedness not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition and each Restricted Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary thereof that guarantees such Indebtedness to the extent such secured Indebtedness prohibits such Subsidiary from becoming a Guarantor (provided that each such Restricted Subsidiary shall cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary under this clause (e) if such secured Indebtedness is repaid or becomes unsecured, if such Restricted Subsidiary ceases to be an obligor with respect to such secured Indebtedness or such prohibition no longer exists, as applicable), (f) any Immaterial Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary, (g) captive insurance companies, (h) not-for-profit Subsidiaries, (i) special purpose entities (including any Securitization Subsidiary or any entity used to effect any Permitted Receivables Financing), (j) any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, (k) any other Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent (confirmed in writing by notice to the Parent Borrower), the cost or other consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of providing a Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom, (l) for so long as it does not have in excess of $15,000,000 of Indebtedness outstanding (other than Indebtedness owed to Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), the Canadian Advertising Fund Subsidiary and (m) any Securitization Holding Company.
“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and solely to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest pursuant to the Collateral Documents to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal or unlawful under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest would otherwise have become effective with respect to such related Swap Obligation but for such Guarantor’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant” at such time.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to any Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction as a result of a present or former connection of such Agent, Lender, L/C Issuer or other recipient, as the case may be, with such jurisdiction (including as a result of being resident or being deemed to be resident, being organized, maintaining an Applicable Lending Office or carrying on business or being deemed to carry on business in such jurisdiction) (other than any connection arising solely from any Loan Documents or any transactions contemplated thereby), (b) any Canadian withholding Tax resulting from (i) a Lender not dealing at arm’s length with the Parent Borrower for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act, or (ii) a Lender being, or not dealing at arm’s length with, a “specified shareholder” of the Parent Borrower for purposes of subsection 18(5) of the Canadian Tax Act, (c) any withholding Tax resulting from a failure of a Lender to comply with Section 3.01(f) or a
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failure of the Administrative Agent to comply with Section 3.01(g), (d) any U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed pursuant to FATCA (including any amounts deducted as a result of Administrative Agent treating the Parent Borrower as if it were a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for purposes of FATCA) and (e) any U.S. federal backup withholding imposed pursuant to Section 3406 of the Code.
“Existing Letters of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).
“Existing Notes” means THI’s 4.20% Senior Unsecured Notes, Series 1, due June 1, 2017, 4.52% Senior Unsecured Notes, Series 2, due December 1, 2023 and 2.85% Senior Unsecured Notes, Series 3, due April 1, 2019 and BKW’s 9 7/8% Senior Notes due 2018 and 11% Senior Discount Notes due 2019.
“Extended Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
“Extended Term Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
“Extension” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
“Extension Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).
“Facility” means a Class of Term Loans or a Revolving Credit Facility, as the context may require.
“FATCA” means current Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (and any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable) or any current or future Treasury regulations with respect thereto or other official administrative interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreements entered into to implement or further the collection of Taxes imposed pursuant to the foregoing (together with any law implementing such agreements).
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the federal funds effective rate. For purposes of this Agreement, in no event shall the Federal Funds Rate be less than 0%.
“Fee Letter” means the Fee Letter dated August 26, 2014, among the Parent Borrower, BKW, JPMCB, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, WF Investment Holdings, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Financial Covenant” means the covenant set forth in Section 7.09.
“First Lien Notes” means the Parent Borrower’s 5.750% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the “2025 First Lien Notes”), the Parent Borrower’s 3.875% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “2028 First Lien Notes”) and the Parent Borrower’s 3.500% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2029 (the “2029 First Lien Notes”).
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“First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt (other than any portion of Consolidated Total Debt that is unsecured or is secured solely by a Lien that is junior to the Liens securing the Obligations) as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for such Test Period; provided that, at the option of the Parent Borrower, solely for purposes of determining compliance with the Financial Covenant, in lieu of using Consolidated EBITDA for any Test Period ending on or after September 30, 2021 and on or prior to December 31, 2021 for purposes of this clause (b), the Parent Borrower may instead use (i) for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2021, Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal quarter multiplied by four and/or (ii) for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021, Consolidated EBITDA for the two fiscal quarter period ending December 31, 2021 multiplied by two.
“First Lien Shared Collateral” means the Shared Collateral to the extent subject to a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent securing the Obligations.
“Fixed Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09(b).
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for such Test Period to (b) Fixed Charges of Holdings for such period.
“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of:
(a)Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period; plus
(b)all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person made during such period; plus
(c)all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Equity Interests of such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person made during such period.
“Flood Insurance Laws” means, collectively, (i) National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (which comprehensively revised the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973) as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iii) the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.
“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement (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, EURIBOR Rate, the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, the Central Bank Rate, or the CDOR RateTerm CORRA, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt the initial Floor for each of the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, EURIBOR Rate, the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, the Central Bank Rate and the CDOR RateTerm CORRA shall be 0.00%.
“Foreign Plan” means any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to or by, or entered into with, any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to employees outside the United States.
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“Foreign Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“Franchisee” means any Person, other than Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, that directly or indirectly owns or operates or is approved by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, own or operate a restaurant that is branded as Burger King, Hungry Jack’s, Tim Horton’s or any other brand operated by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fronting Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“Funded Debt” means all Indebtedness of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time; provided that (A) if Holdings notifies the Administrative Agent that Holdings requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies Holdings 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, (B) at any time after the Closing Date, Holdings may elect, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, to apply IFRS accounting principles in lieu of GAAP and, upon any such election, references herein to GAAP shall thereafter be construed to mean IFRS (except as otherwise provided herein), including as to the ability of Holdings or the Required Lenders to make an election pursuant to clause (A) of this proviso, (C) any election made pursuant to clause (B) of this proviso, once made, shall be irrevocable, (D) any calculation or determination in this Agreement that requires the application of GAAP for periods that include fiscal quarters ended prior to Holdings’ election to apply IFRS shall remain as previously calculated or determined in accordance with GAAP, (E) Holdings may only make an election pursuant to clause (B) of this proviso if it also elects to report any subsequent financial reports required to be made by Holdings, including pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), in IFRS and (F) GAAP shall exclude any applicable changes with respect to revenue recognition after the Closing Date such that the revenue recognition standards from ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition and ASC Subtopic 952-605, Franchisors - Revenue Recognition, solely as it relates to initial and renewal franchise fees and upfront fees from development agreements and master franchise and development agreements, shall continue to apply.
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“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state, provincial, country, territorial or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h).
“Guarantee Obligations” means, as to any Person, without duplication, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee Obligations” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.
“Guarantees” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.”
“Guarantors” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.” For avoidance of doubt, (x) Holdings in its sole discretion may cause any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to Guarantee the Obligations by causing such Restricted Subsidiary to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty Supplement (as defined in the Guaranty), and any such Restricted Subsidiary shall thereafter be a Guarantor, Loan Party and Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder for all purposes and (y) any direct or indirect parent company of Holdings (a “Parent Company”) may in its sole discretion Guarantee the Obligations by (i) executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty Supplement (as defined in the Guaranty) and (ii) furnishing all information as may be reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to comply with applicable “know your customer” requirements, and any such Parent Company shall thereafter be a Guarantor, Loan Party and Parent Guarantor hereunder for all purposes; provided that if such Restricted Subsidiary or Parent Company is not organized in an existing Covered Jurisdiction, the jurisdiction or organization of such Restricted Subsidiary or Parent Company shall be reasonably
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satisfactory to the Collateral Agent if acting as Collateral Agent or entering into Loan Documents with Persons in such jurisdiction is prohibited by applicable Law or would expose the Collateral Agent, in its capacity as such, to material additional liabilities.
“Guaranty” means, collectively, (a) the Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit F and (b) each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.10.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes, and all other chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas and toxic mold.
“Hedge Bank” means any Person that is a Lender, an Agent or an Affiliate of the foregoing on the Escrow Closing Date, or at the time it enters into a Swap Contract with a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary.
“Holdings” means prior to the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, Initial Holdings, and from and after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, New Holdings.
“Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
“IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted in the European Union.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings that has been designated as such by the Parent Borrower; provided that (a) for purposes of this Agreement, at no time shall (i) the total assets of all Immaterial Subsidiaries (other than Subsidiaries organized in jurisdictions that are not Covered Jurisdictions and Unrestricted Subsidiaries) at the last day of the most recent Test Period equal or exceed 2.50% (or, for purposes of Section 8.03, 5.0%) of the total assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such date or (ii) the gross revenues for such Test Period of all Immaterial Subsidiaries (other than Subsidiaries organized in jurisdictions that are not Covered Jurisdictions and Unrestricted Subsidiaries) equal or exceed 2.50% (or, for the purposes of Section 8.03, 5.0%) of the consolidated gross revenues of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (b) the Parent Borrower shall not designate any new Immaterial Subsidiary if such designation would not comply with the provisions set forth in clause (a) above, and (c) if the total assets or gross revenues of all Restricted Subsidiaries so designated by the Parent Borrower as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” shall at any time exceed the limits set forth in clause (a) above, then all such Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be Material Subsidiaries unless and until the Parent Borrower shall redesignate one or more Immaterial Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries, and, as a result thereof, the total assets and gross revenues of all Restricted Subsidiaries still designated as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” do not exceed such limits; and provided, further, that the Parent Borrower may designate and re-designate a Restricted Subsidiary as an Immaterial Subsidiary at any time, subject to the terms set forth in this definition.
“Incremental Amendment No. 1” means Incremental Facility Amendment to this Agreement, dated as of the Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Incremental Amendment No. 1 Effective Date” means March 27, 2017.
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“Incremental Amendment No. 2” means Incremental Facility Amendment No. 2 to this Agreement, dated as of the Incremental Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.
“Incremental Amendment No. 2 Effective Date” means May 17, 2017.
“Incremental Amendment No. 3 Effective Date” means October 13, 2017.
“Incremental Amendment No. 4” means Incremental Facility Amendment No. 4 to this Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2019, by and among the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto.”
“Incremental Amendment No. 4 Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Incremental Amendment No. 4.
“Incremental Amendment No. 6 Closing Date” means December 13, 2021.
“Incremental Facilities” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Incremental Facility Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).
“Incremental Facility Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).
“Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Incremental Revolving Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(d).
“Incremental Term Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
“Incurrence Based Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09(b).
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:
(a)all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;
(b)the maximum amount (after giving effect to any prior drawings or reductions which may have been reimbursed) of all letters of credit (including standby and commercial), banker’s acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;
(c)net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;
(d)all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and if not paid within thirty (30) days after becoming due and payable);
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(e)indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) 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;
(f)all Attributable Indebtedness;
(g)all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;
(h)all obligations under or in respect of Permitted Receivables Financings; and
(i)all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall (A) include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation, company, or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise limited and only to the extent such Indebtedness would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt and (B) in the case of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, exclude all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.
“Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) all Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or in respect of any payment made by or on account of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.05.
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.08.
“Initial Holdings” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Initial Revolving Borrowing” means one or more borrowings of Revolving Credit Loans or issuances or deemed issuances of Letters of Credit on the Closing Date as specified in the definition of the term “Permitted Initial Revolving Borrowing.”
“Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan or RFR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided that if any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the
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Facility under which such Loan was made; (c) as to any RFR Loan, (1) each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and (2) the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; and (d) as to the Term B-2 Loans, the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date.
“Interest Period” means, as to each Term Benchmark Loan, the period commencing on the date such Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Loan and ending on the date one, two (solely in the case of Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars), three or six (other than in the case of a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars) months thereafter (in each case, subject to the availability for the Benchmark applicable to the relevant Loan or Commitment for any Agreed Currency) as selected by the Parent Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:
(a)any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(b)any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;
(c)no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; and
(d)no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 3.02(b)(v) shall be available for specification in such Committed Loan Notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parent Borrower may select an initial Interest Period of less than one month with the approval of the Administrative Agent for the Term B-5 Loans, 2023 Term A Loans and Revolving Credit Borrowings, in each case, borrowed on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date and on the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date, as applicable.
“Intermediate Holding Company” means any wholly-owned Subsidiary of Holdings that directly or indirectly through another Intermediate Holding Company, owns 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, “Intermediate Holding Company” includes Intermediate Holdings.
“Intermediate Holdings” means 1013414 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, an unlimited liability company organized under the laws of British Columbia.
“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee Obligation with respect to any Obligation of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person (excluding, in the case of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, intercompany loans, advances, or Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or (c) the purchase or other
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acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by Fitch, Inc.
“Investors” means the Sponsor, Berkshire Hathaway and the Management Stockholders.
“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.14.
“ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
“JPMCB” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17.
“JV Entity” means any joint venture of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary.
“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
“L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the applicable Honor Date or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing. The amount of any L/C Borrowing made by an L/C Issuer in a Revolving Alternative Currency and not reimbursed by the Borrowers shall be determined as set forth in Section 2.03(c).
“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.
“L/C Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the undrawn portion of the Outstanding Amount of all Letters of Credit at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Borrowings in respect of Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Parent Borrower at such time. The L/C Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate L/C Exposure at such time.
“L/C Issuer” means (i) JPMCB or any of its Affiliates selected by JPMCB, (ii) Wells Fargo Bank, National Association or any of its Affiliates selected by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, (iii) solely for purposes of standby letters of credit, Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. or any of its Affiliates selected by Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., (iv) solely for purposes of standby letters of credit, Barclays Bank PLC or any of its Affiliates selected by Barclays Bank PLC, (v) solely for purposes of standby letters of credit, Royal Bank of Canada or any of its Affiliates selected by Royal Bank of Canada, (vi) The Bank of Nova Scotia or any of its Affiliates selected by The Bank of Nova Scotia and (vii) any other Lender (or any of its Affiliates) that becomes an L/C Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03(j) or Section 10.07(j); in the case of each of clause (i) through (v) above, in its capacity as an issuer of Letters
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of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder and, as the context requires, any Person that was an “L/C Issuer” prior to the Incremental Amendment No. 6 Closing Date.
“L/C Issuer Sublimit” means (i) with respect to JPMCB, $28,395,061.73, (ii) with respect to Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., $28,395,061.73, (iii) with respect to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., $21,296,296.30, (iv) with respect to Barclays Bank PLC, $18,456,790.12, (v) with respect to Royal Bank of Canada, $18,456,790.12, (vi) with respect to The Bank of Nova Scotia, $10,000,000 and (vii) with respect to any other L/C Issuer, such amount as may be mutually agreed between the Parent Borrower and such L/C Issuer and notified in writing to the Administrative Agent by such parties.
“L/C Obligation” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate Dollar Equivalent maximum amount then available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts in respect of Letters of Credit, including all L/C Borrowings. For all purpose under this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, the “Outstanding Amount” of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
“Latest Maturity Date” means, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity date of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, Additional Revolving Credit Commitment, Extended Term Loan or Incremental Term Loan, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state, provincial and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.
“LCA Election” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09(a).
“LCA Test Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.09(a).
“Lead Arrangers” means J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in their capacities as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners under this Agreement and Bank of America, N.A., Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in its capacity as a Joint Bookrunner under this Agreement and each other Person identified as a “lead arranger”, “lead bookrunner” or “joint bookrunner” in any other Loan Document, including the Amendment No. 1 Lead Arrangers, Amendment No. 2 Lead Arrangers, Amendment No. 3 Lead Arrangers, Amendment No. 4 Lead Arrangers, Amendment No. 6 Lead Arrangers, Amendment No. 7 Lead Arrangers, Amendment No. 4 Co-Managers, Amendment No. 6 Co-Documentation Agents and Amendment No. 7 Co-Documentation Agents, the Additional Term B-5 Lead Arrangers and the Additional Term B-5 Co-Documentation Agents (in each case, as defined in Amendment No. 9).
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as the context requires, includes an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender.”
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“Lender Participation Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iii).
“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.
“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the relevant L/C Issuer.
“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means, for Letters of Credit under the Revolving Credit Facility, the day that is five (5) Business Days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $125,000,000 and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, assignment (by way of security or otherwise), deemed trust, 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).
“Limited Condition Acquisition” means any acquisition, including by way of merger, by Holdings or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted pursuant to this Agreement whose consummation is not conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.
“Liquidity” means, on any date, the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP on such date plus (ii) the excess of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Commitments in effect on such date over the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders on such date.
“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Parent Borrower under Article II in the form of a Term Loan, a Revolving Credit Loan or a Swing Line Loan (including any Incremental Term Loans, any Extended Term Loans, loans made pursuant to any Additional Revolving Credit Commitment or loans made pursuant to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments).
“Loan Documents” means, collectively, (i) this Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2, Amendment No. 3, Amendment No. 4, Amendment No. 5, Amendment No. 6, Amendment No. 7, Amendment No. 8, Incremental Amendment No. 1, Incremental Amendment No. 2, Incremental Amendment No. 3 and Incremental Amendment No. 4, (ii) the Notes, (iii) each Guaranty, (iv) the Collateral Documents, and (v) each Letter of Credit Application, in each case as amended.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, (i) the Borrowers, (ii) Holdings and (iii) each other Guarantor.
“Local Time” means (a) local time in New York City, with respect to the times for (i) the determination of “Dollar Equivalent” and (ii) the receipt and sending of notices by and to and the disbursement by or payment to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or Lender with respect to Loans and Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars; (b) local time in London, England, with respect to the time
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for the receipt and sending of notices by and to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender with respect to Loans and Letters of Credit denominated in Euro; (c) local time in London, England, with respect to the disbursement by or payment to the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to Loans denominated in Euro and Letters of Credit denominated in Euro; (d) local time in Toronto, Canada with respect to the receipt and sending of notices by and to and the disbursement by or payment to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender with respect to Loans and Letters of Credit denominated in Canadian Dollars; (e) local time in such other jurisdiction as the Administrative Agent may specify with respect to the disbursement by or payment to the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to Loans denominated in any other Alternative Currency and Letters of Credit denominated in any other Alternative Currency; and (f) in all other circumstances, New York, New York time.
“Management Stockholders” means the members of management of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries who are investors in Holdings or any direct or indirect parent thereof.
“Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock or common equity interests of the Parent Borrower, any Parent Guarantor, Holdings or any Parent Company on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of such common stock on the principal securities exchange on which such common stock are traded for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.
“Master Agreement” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Swap Contract.”
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their respective payment obligations under any Loan Document to which any of the Loan Parties is a party or (c) a material adverse effect on the rights and remedies of the Lenders or the Agents under any Loan Document.
“Material Intellectual Property” means any intellectual property that is material to the operation of the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and after giving effect to any designation, sale, contribution, transfer, assignment, disposition or granting of an exclusive license contemplated by Section 6.13.
“Material Real Property” means (a) any real property owned by a Loan Party on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01F and (b) any real property acquired by any Loan Party following the Closing Date located in the United States or Canada with a book value in excess of $50,000,000.
“Material Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, each Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary (but including, in any case, any Restricted Subsidiary that has been designated as a Material Subsidiary as provided in, or has been designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary in a manner that does not comply with, the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary”).
“Maturity Date” means (a) with respect to (i) the 2023 Revolving Credit Commitments and the 2023 Revolving Facility and (ii) the 2023 Term A Loans, the fifth anniversary of the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date; provided that if on any date (any such date, the “Springing Maturity Date”) on or after January 1, 2027, more than an aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000 of the First Lien Notes and/or the Second Lien Notes (or any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing) have a scheduled
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maturity within 91 days of such date, then the maturity of the 2023 Revolving Credit Commitments, 2023 Revolving Facility and the 2023 Term A Loans shall be the Springing Maturity Date, (b) with respect to Term B-5 Loans, the seventh anniversary of the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, or (c) with respect to any (i) Extended Term Loan, the maturity date applicable to such Extended Term Loan in accordance with the terms hereof or (ii) Incremental Term Loan, the maturity date applicable to such Incremental Term Loan in accordance with the terms hereof; provided that if any such day is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the Business Day immediately preceding such day.
“Maximum Tender Condition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(b).
“Minimum Extension Condition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(b).
“Minimum Tender Condition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(b).
“Minimum Tranche Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(b).
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Mortgage” means, collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds, deeds of hypothecation, security deeds, immovable hypothecs, and mortgages creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Property made by the Loan Parties in favor or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, and any other mortgages executed and delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii) and Section 6.10 and/or Section 6.12, as applicable.
“Mortgage Policies” has the meaning specified in paragraph (f) of the definition of Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.
“Mortgaged Property” means each Material Real Property, if any, which shall be subject to a Mortgage delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii), Section 6.10 and/or Section 6.12, as applicable.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the immediately preceding six (6) years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.
“Net Cash Proceeds” means:
(a)with respect to the Disposition of any asset by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Casualty Event, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received and, with respect to any Casualty Event, any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of such Casualty Event actually received by or paid to or for the account of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness that is secured by the asset subject to such Disposition or Casualty Event and that is required to be repaid (and is timely repaid) in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents and Indebtedness that is secured by Liens ranking junior to or pari passu with the Liens securing Indebtedness under the Loan Documents),
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(B) the out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees) actually incurred by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event, (C) taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be actually payable in connection therewith (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any income, withholding and other taxes payable as a result of the distribution of such proceeds to the Parent Borrower, Holdings, or any direct or indirect parent thereof), and (D) any reserve for adjustment in respect of (x) the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP and (y) any liabilities associated with such asset or assets and retained by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or with respect to any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction, it being understood that “Net Cash Proceeds” shall include (i) any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the Disposition of any non-cash consideration by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in any such Disposition and (ii) upon the reversal (without the satisfaction of any applicable liabilities in cash in a corresponding amount) of any reserve described in clause (D) above or if such liabilities have not been satisfied in cash and such reserve is not reversed within 365 days after such Disposition or Casualty Event, the amount of such reserve; and
(b)(i) with respect to the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, the excess, if any, of (x) the sum of the cash received in connection with such incurrence or issuance over (y) the investment banking fees, underwriting discounts, commissions, costs and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses incurred by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such incurrence or issuance and (ii) with respect to any Permitted Equity Issuance by Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings, the excess, if any, of (x) the sum of the cash received by Holdings in connection with such Permitted Equity Issuance over (y) the investment banking fees, underwriting discounts, commissions, costs and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses incurred by Holdings or such direct or indirect parent thereof.
“New Holdings” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“New Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Revolving Credit Commitment”.
“New Revolving Facility” means the New Revolving Credit Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder.
“New Senior Secured Notes” means up to $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.625% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2022 issued by the Borrowers pursuant to the New Senior Secured Notes Indenture.
“New Senior Secured Notes Indenture” means the Indenture dated May 22, 2015, among the Borrowers, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee.
“New Senior Secured Notes Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date among the Collateral Agent and Wilmington Trust,
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National Association, as trustee and collateral agent for the holders of the New Senior Secured Notes, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06(d).
“Non-Loan Party” means any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings that is not a Loan Party.
“Nonrenewal Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).
“Note” means a Term Note or a Revolving Credit Note as the context may require.
“Notes Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Collateral Agent and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee and second priority collateral agent, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day(or for any day that is not a Banking Day, for the immediately preceding Banking Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received to the Administrative Agent from a Federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.
“Obligations” means all (x) advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party or other Subsidiary arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding, (y) obligations of any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary arising under any Secured Hedge Agreement (other than, with respect to any Guarantor, Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor), and (z) Cash Management Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (and of any of their Subsidiaries to the extent they have obligations under the Loan Documents) include (a) the obligation (including guarantee obligations) to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit commissions, reimbursement obligations, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts, in each case, payable by any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary.
“Offered Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iii).
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“Organization Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation or company, the certificate or articles of incorporation, the memorandum and articles of association, any certificates of change of name and/or the bylaws; (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, declaration, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary Taxes and any other property, intangible, mortgage recording or similar Taxes which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, excluding, in each case, any such Tax resulting from an Assignment and Assumption or transfer or assignment to or designation of a new Applicable Lending Office or other office for receiving payments under any Loan Document (an “Assignment Tax”) but only if (a) such Assignment Tax is imposed as a result of a present or former connection of the assignor or assignee with the jurisdiction imposing such Assignment Tax (other than any connection arising solely from any Loan Documents or any transactions contemplated thereby) and (b) such Assignment Tax does not arise as a result of an assignment (or designation of a new Applicable Lending Office) pursuant to a request by Borrower under Section 3.06.
“Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to any Loan on any date, the Dollar Equivalent of the outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments thereof (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under Letters of Credit or L/C Borrowings as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, Unreimbursed Amount, L/C Borrowing or L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent of the outstanding amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any related L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes thereto as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of outstanding Unreimbursed Amounts under related Letters of Credit or related L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under related Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.
“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the NYFRB shall commence to publish such composite rate).
“Parent Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Parent Company” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Guarantors”.
“Parent Guarantor” has the meaning specified in Section 6.10(c) and, for the avoidance of doubt, after the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date includes Initial Holdings, Intermediate Holdings and Holdings.
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“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(e).
“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(e).
“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.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six (6) years.
“Periodic Term CORRA Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term CORRA.”
“Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(j).
“Permitted Alternative Incremental Facilities Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 7.03(t).
“Permitted Canadian Part VI.1 Tax” means any Taxes (other than (x) Taxes measured by income and (y) withholding Taxes) under Part VI.1 of the Canadian Tax Act, required to be paid (provided such Taxes are in fact paid) by any direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower by virtue of its payment of dividends on its Equity Interests or the redemption or repurchase of its Equity Interests.
“Permitted Credit Facilities Acquisition Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 7.03(v).
“Permitted Debt Exchange” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(a).
“Permitted Debt Exchange Notes” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(a).
“Permitted Debt Exchange Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17(a).
“Permitted Equity Issuance” means any sale or issuance of any Qualified Equity Interests.
“Permitted Holders” means any of (a) the Sponsor and (b) any other Investor.
“Permitted Initial Revolving Borrowing” means (a) one or more Borrowings of Revolving Credit Loans (i) to finance the Acquisition and related transactions and pay the Transaction Expenses, in an aggregate amount for this clause (i) of up to the sum of (A) $100,000,000 plus (B) the amount of overseas cash being repatriated by BKW in connection with the Transactions but which is not available as of the Closing Date notified in writing to the Administrative Agent by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower, plus (ii) to finance any amount of original issue discount or upfront fees imposed pursuant to the “market flex” provisions of the Fee Letter or in connection with the issuance of the Senior
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Secured Notes on or prior to the Closing Date plus (iii) for working capital and other general corporate purposes and (b) the issuance of Letters of Credit in replacement of, or as a backstop for, letters of credit of the Parent Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the Closing Date.
“Permitted Liens” means any Liens permitted by Section 7.01.
“Permitted Non-Recourse Factoring” means one or more non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such non-recourse facilities) receivables purchase facilities made available to Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on then-market terms (as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower) in an aggregate principal amount for all such facilities not exceeding $200,000,000 at any time outstanding.
“Permitted Receivables Financing” means a Permitted Non-Recourse Factoring or a Permitted Recourse Receivables Financing.
“Permitted Recourse Receivables Financing” means one or more receivables purchase facilities made available to Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on then-market terms (as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower) in an aggregate principal amount for all such facilities not exceeding $75,000,000 at any time outstanding.
“Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification (other than a release of such Person), refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder, and as otherwise permitted under Section 7.03, (b) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(f) or Indebtedness outstanding under the Earlier Maturing Basket Amount, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended, (c) other than with respect to a Permitted Refinancing in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(f), at the time thereof, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (d) to the extent such Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is secured by a Lien on the Collateral, the Lien securing such Indebtedness as modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended shall not be senior in priority to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended unless otherwise permitted under this Agreement and (e) if such Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(c), (i) to the extent such Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended, (ii) except in the case of any Ratably Secured Existing Notes, the terms and conditions (including, if applicable, as to collateral but excluding as to subordination, interest rate and redemption premium) of any such modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended Indebtedness, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Loan Parties or the Lenders than the terms and
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conditions of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended; provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Parent Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Parent Borrower within such five Business Day period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees) and (iii) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is incurred by a Person who is the obligor of the Indebtedness being so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended or a Loan Party.
“Permitted Sale Leaseback” means any Sale Leaseback consummated by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date; provided that any such Sale Leaseback not between (a) a Loan Party and another Loan Party or (b) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party must be, in each case, consummated for fair value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith by (i) Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) in the case of any Sale Leaseback (or series of related Sales Leasebacks) the aggregate proceeds of which exceed $50,000,000, the board of managers or directors, as applicable, of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary (which such determination may take into account any retained interest or other Investment of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, and any other material economic terms of, such Sale Leaseback); provided that in the case of clause (ii) above, if after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such Disposition for consideration in excess of $75,000,000, the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period is greater than 3.50:1.00, Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 75.0% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (as determined in accordance with Section 7.05(m)).
“Permitted Tax Distribution” means
(a)if and for so long as Holdings is a member of a group filing a consolidated or combined tax return with any parent entity, any dividends or other distributions to fund any income Taxes for which such parent entity is liable up to an amount not to exceed with respect to such Taxes the amount of any such Taxes that Holdings and its Subsidiaries would have been required to pay on a separate company basis or on a consolidated basis if Holdings and its Subsidiaries had paid Tax on a consolidated, combined, group, affiliated or unitary basis on behalf of an affiliated group consisting only of Holdings and its Subsidiaries; and
(b)for any taxable year (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date for which Holdings is treated as a disregarded entity, partnership, or other flow-through entity for federal, state, provincial, territorial, and/or local income Tax purposes, the payment of dividends or other distributions to Holdings’ direct owner(s) to fund the income Tax liability of such owner(s) (or, if a direct owner is a pass-through entity, of the indirect owner(s)) for such taxable year (or portion thereof) attributable to the operations and activities of Holdings and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, in an aggregate amount not the exceed the product of (x) the highest combined marginal federal and applicable state, provincial, territorial, and/or local statutory Tax rate (after taking into account the deductibility of U.S. state and local income Tax for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, and of Canadian provincial and local income Tax for Canadian federal income tax purposes, and the character of the taxable income in question (e.g., long term capital gain,
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qualified dividend income, etc.)) applicable to the direct parent(s) of Holdings for the taxable year (or portion thereof) in question (or, where the direct parent is a pass-through entity, applicable to any indirect equity owner for such year) as reasonably determined by Holdings using information available to it, and (y) the taxable income of Holdings for such taxable year (or portion thereof), reduced by any cumulative net loss with respect to all prior taxable years (or portions thereof) to the extent such cumulative net taxable loss is of a character and type that would permit such loss to be deducted against the income of the taxable year (or portion thereof) in question and has not previously been taken into account under this clause (y).
“Permitted Tax Restructuring” means any reorganizations and other activities related to tax planning and tax reorganization (as determined by the Parent Borrower in good faith) entered into on or after the Closing Date so long as such Permitted Tax Restructuring does not materially impair the security interests of the Lenders and is otherwise not materially adverse to the Lenders and after giving effect to such Permitted Tax Restructuring, Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise comply with Section 6.10.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) other than a Foreign Plan, established or maintained by any Loan Party or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Post-Acquisition Period” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition or the conversion of any Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Restricted Subsidiary, the period beginning on the date such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated and ending on the last day of the fourth full consecutive fiscal quarter immediately following the date on which such Permitted Acquisition or conversion is consummated.
“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.
“Preferred Stock” means $3,000,000,000 initial aggregate liquidation preference of 9% preferred stock of an indirect controlling parent of the Parent Borrower on the Closing Date and any accretions or accumulations of unpaid dividends thereon (including through the payment in kind of dividends).
“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
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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.
“Pro Forma Adjustment” means, for any Test Period that includes all or any part of a fiscal quarter included in any Post-Acquisition Period (or, with respect to the Acquisition, the twelve (12) months following the Closing Date), with respect to the Acquired EBITDA of the applicable Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary or the Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings, (a) the pro forma increase or decrease in such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, that is factually supportable and is expected to have a continuing impact, in each case as determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and (b) additional good faith pro forma adjustments arising out of cost savings initiatives attributable to such transaction and additional costs associated with the combination of the operations of such Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary with the operations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case being given pro forma effect, that (i) have been realized or (ii) will be implemented following such transaction and are supportable and quantifiable and expected to be realized within the succeeding eighteen (18) months and, in each case, including, but not limited to, (w) reduction in personnel expenses, (x) reduction of costs related to administrative functions, (y) reductions of costs related to leased or owned properties and (z) reductions from the consolidation of operations and streamlining of corporate overhead taking into account, for purposes of determining such compliance, the historical financial statements of the Acquired Entity or Business or Converted Restricted Subsidiary and the consolidated financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, assuming such Permitted Acquisition or conversion, and all other Permitted Acquisitions or conversions that have been consummated during the period, and any Indebtedness or other liabilities repaid in connection therewith had been consummated and incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period (and assuming that such Indebtedness to be incurred bears interest during any portion of the applicable measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the interest rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination); provided that, so long as such actions are initiated during such Post-Acquisition Period or such costs are incurred during such Post-Acquisition Period, as applicable, for purposes of projecting such pro forma increase or decrease to such Acquired EBITDA or such Consolidated EBITDA, as the case may be, it may be assumed that such cost savings will be realizable during the entirety of such Test Period, or such additional costs, as applicable, will be incurred during the entirety of such Test Period.
“Pro Forma Balance Sheet” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05(a)(ii).
“Pro Forma Basis” and “Pro Forma Effect” mean, with respect to compliance with any test hereunder for an applicable period of measurement, that (A) to the extent applicable, the Pro Forma Adjustment shall have been made and (B) all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement (as of the last date in the case of a balance sheet item) in such test: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of
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determination; provided that, without limiting the application of the Pro Forma Adjustment pursuant to (A) above, the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (as determined by the Parent Borrower in good faith) (i) (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable or (ii) otherwise consistent with the definition of Pro Forma Adjustment.
“Pro Forma Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05(a)(ii).
“Pro Rata Facilities” means the Revolving Credit Facility and/or the Term A Facility, as the context requires.
“Pro Rata Loan” means a Loan made under any Pro Rata Facility.
“Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(ii).
“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.26.
“Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests of Holdings (or of the Parent Borrower, any Parent Guarantor or any Intermediate Holding Company or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings), in each case, that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Qualified Securitization Financing” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (i) the board of directors of the Parent Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) all sales or contributions of Securitization Assets and related assets by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person are made for fair consideration (as determined in good faith by the Issuer), and (iii) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be fair and reasonable terms (as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings, provided that with respect to any Qualified Securitization Financing the following conditions must be met and with respect to clause (z) continue to be met:
(x) the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to all Securitization Assets subject to any such Qualified Securitization Financing (as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower), in the aggregate, is less than the greater of $625,000,000 and 25% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period on the date of consummation of such Qualified Securitization Financing,
(y) the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries is no greater than 4.00:1.00 on the date of consummation of such Qualified Securitization Financing on a Pro Forma Basis but without netting the proceeds received
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therefrom unless such proceeds are used to reduce, prepay, repay or purchase Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, including Indebtedness under this Agreement, and
(z) Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries shall ensure that all excess cash (as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower) not needed for the operations of the applicable Securitization Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries are dividended or otherwise distributed up to a Restricted Subsidiary on no less than an annual basis.
“Qualifying Lenders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iv).
“Qualifying Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(d)(iv).
“Quebec Security” has the meaning specified in Section 10.23(i).
“Ratably Secured Existing Notes” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Refinancing.”
“Ratably Secured Existing Notes Guarantor” means any “Guarantor” as defined in the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture.
“Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture” means the Trust Indenture dated as of June 1, 2010, as supplemented by (a) the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 1, 2010 and the First (Reopening) Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2010, (b) the Second Supplemental Trust Indenture dated as of November 29, 2013 and (c) the Third Supplemental Trust Indenture dated as of March 28, 2014, in each case, between THI and the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Trustee.
“Ratably Secured Existing Notes Intercreditor Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 10.20(c).
“Ratably Secured Existing Notes Issuer” means the “Issuer” as defined in the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture.
“Ratably Secured Existing Notes Trustee” means BNY Trust Company of Canada, as trustee for the Ratably Secured Existing Notes, and its successors in such capacity.
“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) if such Benchmark is EURIBOR Rate, 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days preceding the date of such setting, (3) if the RFR for such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four Business Days prior to such setting or, (4) if, following a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to Term CORRA, the RFR for such Benchmark is Daily Simple CORRA, then four RFR Business Days prior to such setting, (5) if such Benchmark is Term CORRA, 1:00 p.m. Toronto local time on the day that is two Business Days preceding the date of such setting or (5) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate, the EURIBOR Rate or, Daily Simple SOFR, Daily Simple CORRA or Term CORRA, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.
“Refinancing” means:
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(i) the repayment in full and termination of all commitments under THI’s Senior Revolving Facility Credit Agreement, dated as of October 4, 2013;
(ii) the repayment in full and termination of all commitments under BKW’s or its subsidiaries’ Credit Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2012; and
(iii) the (A) purchase and retirement of the Existing Notes on or prior to the Closing Date (pursuant to a tender offer or otherwise), (B) calling for redemption of the Existing Notes on the Closing Date for the earliest permitted redemption date and the deposit of funds sufficient to fund such redemption with the trustee or other paying agent therefor on the Closing Date or (C) solely in the case of the Existing Notes of THI, granting of an equal and ratable Lien to secure such Existing Notes on a pari passu basis with the Obligations (any such equally and ratably secured Existing Notes, the “Ratably Secured Existing Notes”).
“Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments” means Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments that are designated by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower as “Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments” in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of incurrence.
“Refinancing Term Loans” means Incremental Term Loans that are designated by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower as “Refinancing Term Loans” in a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date of incurrence; provided that such Incremental Term Loans have a final maturity date that is no earlier than the final maturity date of the Term Loans refinanced thereby and a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is no shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Term Loans.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d).
“Rejection Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(v).
“Release” means any release, spill, emission, discharge, deposit, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, injection, migration or leaching into or through the Environment or into, from or through any building, structure or facility.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means (i) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Dollars, the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, as applicable, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto, (ii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Euros, the European Central Bank, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the European Central Bank or, in each case, any successor thereto, and (iii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, the Bank of Canada, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Bank of Canada or, in each case, any successor thereto, and (iv) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in any other currency, (a) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated or any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either (1) such Benchmark Replacement or (2) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement or (b) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (1) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated, (2) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark
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Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement, (3) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (4) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.
“Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Rate, (iii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, the CDOR RateTerm CORRA or (iv) with respect to any RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars, the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, as applicable.
“Relevant Screen Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or, (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Screen Rate, as applicable, and (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, Term CORRA.
“Reportable Event” means, with respect to any Pension Plan, any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.
“Repricing Transaction” means, with respect to the Term B-5 Loans, (a) any prepayment or repayment of Term B-5 Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of Term B-5 Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of term loans bearing interest with an Effective Yield less than the Effective Yield applicable to the Term B-5 Loans, and (b) any amendment (including pursuant to a replacement term loan as contemplated by Section 10.01) to the Term B-5 Loans which reduces the Effective Yield applicable to the Term B-5 Loans, in each case, other than in connection with a Change of Control, a Transformative Event or a dividend recapitilization.
“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate Outstanding Amount of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) aggregate unused Term Commitments and (c) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that (i) the unused Term Commitment and unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders, (ii) the unused Term Commitment and unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by any Lenders that are Sponsor Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders and (iii) Affiliated Debt Funds may not, in the aggregate, account for more than 49.9% of the amount necessary to establish that the Required Lenders have consented to an action and the unused Term Commitment and unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by any Affiliated Debt Funds in excess of such amount shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
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“Required Pro Rata Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50.0% of the sum of the (a) aggregate of the Outstanding Amount of all Term A Loans, (b) unused Term A Commitments and (c) Revolving Credit Commitments (plus, after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Revolving Credit Exposure); provided that (i) the unused Term A Commitment of, the portion of the Outstanding Amount of Term A Loans held by, the Revolving Credit Commitment of and the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Pro Rata Lenders, (ii) the unused Term A Commitment of, the portion of the Outstanding Amount of Term A Loans held by, the Revolving Credit Commitment of and the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lenders that are Sponsor Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Pro Rata Lenders and (iii) Affiliated Debt Funds may not, in the aggregate, account for more than 49.9% of the amount necessary to establish that the Required Pro Rata Lenders have consented to an action, and the unused Term A Commitment of, the portion of the Outstanding Amount of Term A Loans held by, the Revolving Credit Commitment of and the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Affiliated Debt Funds in excess of such amount shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Pro Rata Lenders.
“Required Revolving Credit Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, at least two Lenders having more than 50.0% in the aggregate of the Revolving Credit Commitments plus after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders; provided that (i) the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders, (ii) the Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Exposure of Lenders that are Sponsor Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders and (iii) Affiliated Debt Funds may not, in the aggregate, account for more than 49.9% of the amount necessary to establish that the Required Revolving Credit Lenders have consented to an action and any other Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Exposure of Affiliated Debt Funds in excess of such amount shall be excluded for all purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Credit Lenders.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or other similar officer or director of a Loan Party and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, any secretary or assistant secretary of a Loan Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.
“Restricted Casualty Event” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(vi).
“Restricted Disposition” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(vi).
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest in Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or
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termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the holders of Equity Interests of Holdings.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Holdings other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Retained Declined Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(v).
“Revaluation Date” shall mean (a) with respect to any Loan denominated in any Revolving Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) the date of the Borrowing of such Loan and (ii) (A) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, each date of a conversion into or continuation of such Loan pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and (B) with respect to any RFR Loan, each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month); (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, each of the following: (i) the date on which such Letter of Credit is issued, (ii) the first Business Day of each calendar month and (iii) the date of any amendment of such Letter of Credit that has the effect of increasing the face amount thereof; and (c) any additional date as the Administrative Agent may determine at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
“Revolving Alternative Currency” means Euro and Canadian Dollars and any other currencies as shall be agreed from time to time among the Administrative Agent, each Revolving Credit Lender, each applicable L/C Issuer and the Parent Borrower.
“Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of Revolving Credit Loans of the same Class, Type and currency, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
“Revolving Credit Commitment” means with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans, expressed as an amount representing the maximum possible aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.14. The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment on the Escrow Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 2.01 of this Agreement, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Credit Commitment, as the case may be. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments on the Escrow Closing Date is $500,000,000. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Amendment No. 3 Effective Date is $500,000,000 (the “New Revolving Credit Commitment”). The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments on the Incremental Amendment No. 4 Closing Date is $1,000,000,000 (the “2019 Revolving Credit Commitment”). The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments on the Amendment No. 6 Effective Date is $1,000,000,000 (the “2021 Revolving Credit Commitment”). The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date is $1,250,000,000 (the “2023 Revolving Credit Commitment”).
“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, at any time for any Lender, the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender outstanding at such time, (b) the L/C
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Exposure of such Lender at such time and (c) except for purposes of Section 2.09, the Swing Line Exposure of such Lender at such time.
“Revolving Credit Facility” means the Revolving Credit Commitments and the extension of credit made thereunder.
“Revolving Credit Lender” means a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment or, if the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, a Lender with Revolving Credit Exposure.
“Revolving Credit Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(d).
“Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note of the Borrowers payable to any Revolving Credit Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-2 hereto with appropriate insertions, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Revolving Credit Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility.
“RFR” means, (a) for any RFR Loan denominated in Dollars, Daily Simple SOFR, and (b) for any RFR Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars (solely following a Benchmark Transition Event and Benchmark replacement Date with respect to Term CORRA), Daily Simple CORRA.
“RFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the RFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.
“RFR Business Day” means, (a) for any Loan denominated in Dollars, a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, and (b) for any Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which commercial banks in Toronto are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
“RFR Interest Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple RFR”.
“RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, and any successor thereto.
“Sale Leaseback” means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of any property, real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and (b) as part of such transaction, thereafter rents or leases such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold, transferred or disposed.
“Sanctions Laws and Regulations” means any sanctions or requirements imposed by, or based upon the obligations or authorities set forth in, (a) the USA PATRIOT Act, the Executive Order No. 13224 of September 23, 2001, entitled Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)), the U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq.), the U.S. Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq.), the U.S. Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act,
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the U.S. Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 or the Iran Sanctions Act, Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, all as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations (including but not limited to 31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any other law or executive order relating thereto administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control or the U.S. Department of State, and any similar law, regulation, or executive order enacted in the United States after the date of this Agreement and (b) the Special Economic Measures Act (Canada), the United Nations Act (Canada), the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Canada) and the Criminal Code (Canada)), all as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations or any other law or executive order relating thereto administered by the Government of Canada and any other applicable Canadian Governmental Authority, and any similar law, regulation, or executive order enacted in Canada after the date of this Agreement.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Second Additional Term B-3 Commitment” means with respect to the Second Additional Term B-3 Lender, its commitment to make a Term B-3 Loan on the Incremental Amendment No. 2 Effective Date in an amount equal to $250,000,000.
“Second Additional Term B-3 Lender” means the Person identified as such on the signature page to Incremental Facility Amendment No. 2.
“Second Lien Notes” means the Parent Borrower’s 4.375% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Second Lien Notes”) and the Parent Borrower’s 4.000% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Second Lien Notes”).
“Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract that is entered into by and between any Loan Party (or any Person that merges into a Loan Party) or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Hedge Bank.
“Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Documentation Agents, the Syndication Agents, the Lenders, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, the Supplemental Administrative Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.01(c).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
“Securitization Asset” means (a) any royalty, synthetic royalties, franchise fees, franchise note payments, license fees, collections from company restaurants or other revenue streams and other rights to payment (including pursuant to the terms of joint ventures) or related assets (whether now existing or arising in the future) and the proceeds thereof, (b) in the case of a WBS Securitization, real estate assets, real estate leases and sub-leases, equipment, equipment leases, equipment sub-leases, cloud use contracts, domain names, marketing materials, intellectual property license agreements, intellectual property, development agreements, franchise agreements, product sourcing agreements, vendor agreements, (c) all assets related thereto, including without limitation, all collateral securing any such receivable or asset, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations (including without limitation, letters of credit, promissory notes or trade credit insurance) supporting any such receivable or asset, all bank and lockbox accounts and records with respect to such accounts relating to any such receivable or asset and any other assets customarily transferred (or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted) together with receivables or assets in connection with a securitization, factoring
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or receivable sale transaction and (d) any security retained by Holdings or a Subsidiary in connection with a Securitization Facility.
“Securitization Facility” means any of one or more securitization, financing, factoring or sales transactions, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated, refinanced or refunded from time to time, pursuant to which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries sells, transfers, pledges, contributes or otherwise conveys any Securitization Assets (whether now existing or arising in the future) to one or more Securitization Subsidiaries or any other Person, including, without limitation, a WBS Securitization and a Securitization Facility that exists at the time of acquisition of the applicable Securitization Subsidiary.
“Securitization Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any Securitization Asset or participation interest therein issued or sold in connection with, and other fees, expenses and charges (including commissions, yield, interest expense and fees and expenses of legal counsel) paid in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Financing.
"“Securitization Holding Company” means a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent (i) such Restricted Subsidiary is the direct or indirect parent company of a Securitization Subsidiary, (ii) neither such Restricted Subsidiary nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any Indebtedness (other than in respect of a Qualified Securitization Financing) and (iii) the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary constitute Collateral.
“Securitization Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller or contributor of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Financing to repurchase or otherwise make payments with respect to Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a Securitization Asset or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, offset or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to such seller or contributor to the extent determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower to be customary for non-recourse securitization financings.
“Securitization Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Holdings in each case formed for the purpose of and that solely engages in one or more Securitization Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto, including providing guarantees in respect thereof or holding Securitization Assets in connection therewith and, in the case of a WBS Securitization, entering into new development agreements and franchise agreements and acquiring and developing other Securitization Assets to be included in such WBS Securitization, or another Person formed for this purpose; provided (x) such Subsidiary shall be directly or indirectly owned by a Securitization Holding Company and (y) such Subsidiary shall not (directly, or indirectly through its Subsidiaries) own any Equity Interests of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, any Securitization Facility may involve more than one Securitization Subsidiary.
“Security Agreement Supplement” means a supplement to any Security Agreement as contemplated by such Security Agreement and includes Amendment No. 8, as applicable.
“Security Agreements” means, collectively, the Canadian Security Agreement and the U.S. Security Agreement.
“Senior Secured Notes” means up to $2,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of (i) 6% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2022 issued by the Borrowers pursuant to the Senior Secured Notes Indenture or (ii) in the event such notes referred to in clause (i) become subject to
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redemption in full on or prior to the Closing Date, other Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower and/or any Guarantor secured by Liens ranking junior to the Liens securing the Obligations pursuant to the Notes Intercreditor Agreement or a Customary Intercreditor Agreement and with a final maturity (disregarding any interim maturity that would only apply upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Parent Borrower pursuant to Section 8.01(f)) not earlier than the date that is seven years and six months after the Escrow Closing Date.
“Senior Secured Notes Indenture” means (i) the Indenture dated October 8, 2014, among the Borrowers, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee or (ii) if Senior Secured Notes are issued pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the loan agreement or indenture governing such Senior Secured Notes.
“Shared Collateral” means any Tim Hortons Property to the extent subject to a Lien that secures the obligations under the Ratably Secured Existing Notes, where such security is required in order for the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Issuer or any Ratably Secured Existing Notes Guarantor to comply with their respective obligations under the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture.
“Similar Business” means (a) any businesses, services or activities engaged in by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, (b) any businesses, services and activities that are related, complementary, incidental, ancillary or similar to any of the foregoing or are extensions or developments of any thereof, and (c) a Person conducting a business, service or activity specified in clauses (a) and (b), and any Subsidiary thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, any Person that invests in or owns Equity Interests or Indebtedness of another Person that is engaged in a Similar Business shall be deemed to be engaged in a Similar Business.
“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.
“SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.
“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.
“Sold Entity or Business” has the meaning specified in the definition of the term “Consolidated EBITDA.”
“Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (i) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of debts and liabilities, contingent, subordinated or otherwise, of such Person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as they become absolute and matured and (iv) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital; provided that the
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amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
“SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h).
“Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations” means the representations made by THI in the Acquisition Agreement that are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that BKW has the right to terminate its obligations under the Acquisition Agreement or to decline to consummate the Acquisition as a result of a breach of such representations in the Acquisition Agreement.
“Specified Assets” means non-core assets having an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower) that is not in excess of $150,000,000.
“Specified Dispositions” means a Disposition of Specified Assets.
“Specified Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in Sections 5.01(a) (solely as it relates to Holdings and the Borrowers), 5.01(b)(ii), 5.02(a) (related to the entering into and performance of the Loan Documents and the incurrence of the extensions of credit thereunder), 5.02(b)(i) (related to the entering into and performance of the Loan Documents and the incurrence of the extensions of credit thereunder), 5.04, 5.12, 5.15, 5.16 (subject to the proviso to Section 4.01(a)(iii)), 5.18 (limited to the use of proceeds of the Loans on the Closing Date) and 5.19.
“Specified Transaction” means any Investment, Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation, Incremental Term Loan or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments that by the terms of this Agreement requires such test to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect”; provided that any increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments (including, for this purpose, any Additional Revolving Credit Commitment or Extended Revolving Credit Commitment) above the amount of Revolving Credit Commitments in effect on the Closing Date, for purposes of this “Specified Transaction” definition, shall be deemed to be fully drawn; provided, further, that any such Specified Transaction (other than a Restricted Payment) having an aggregate value of less than $20,000,000 shall not be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect.”
“Sponsor” means each of 3G Capital Partners Ltd. And its Affiliates and funds or partnerships managed by it or any of its Affiliates, but not including, however, any of their portfolio companies.
“Sponsor Affiliated Lender” means the Sponsor and any Affiliate of the Sponsor (including Affiliated Debt Funds).
“Sponsor Management Agreement” means, collectively, each of the management agreements between certain of the management companies associated with the Sponsor or their advisors, the Parent Borrower, certain of its Subsidiaries and/or certain of its direct or indirect parents.
“Springing Maturity Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Maturity Date”.
“Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, guarantees and indemnities entered into by Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings which the Parent
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Borrower has determined in good faith to be customary for non-recourse Securitization Facilities or Permitted Receivables Financing, including those relating to the servicing or management of the assets of a Securitization Subsidiary, which obligations may to the extent determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower to be customary for non-recourse securitization financings be secured by a pledge of collateral, including, without limitation the equity interests in any Securitization Subsidiary, it being understood that any Securitization Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.
“Subordinated Debt” means Indebtedness incurred by a Loan Party that is subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of all Obligations of such Loan Party under the Loan Documents.
“Subordinated Debt Documents” means any agreement, indenture or instrument pursuant to which any Subordinated Debt is issued, in each case as amended to the extent permitted under the Loan Documents.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, company, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Holdings.
“Subsidiary Borrower” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of the Parent Borrower that are Guarantors.
“Successor Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(h).
“Successor Holdings” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(h) and, on the Amendment No. 8 Effective Date, includes New Holdings.
“Successor Parent Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(h).
“Successor Person” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(d).
“Supplemental Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 9.13(a) and “Supplemental Administrative Agents” shall have the corresponding meaning.
“Survey” means a survey of any Mortgaged Property (and all improvements thereon) which is (a) (i) prepared by a surveyor or engineer licensed to perform surveys in the jurisdiction where such Mortgaged Property is located, (ii) dated (or redated) not earlier than six months prior to the date of delivery thereof unless there shall have occurred within six months prior to such date of delivery any exterior construction on the site of such Mortgaged Property or any easement, right of way or other interest in the Mortgaged Property has been granted or become effective through operation of law or otherwise with respect to such Mortgaged Property which, in either case, can be depicted on a survey, in which events, as applicable, such survey shall be dated (or redated) after the completion of such construction or if such construction shall not have been completed as of such date of delivery, not earlier than 20 days prior to such date of delivery, or after the grant or effectiveness of any such easement, right
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of way or other interest in the Mortgaged Property, (iii) certified by the surveyor (in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Title Company, (iv) complying in all respects with the minimum detail requirements of the American Land Title Association as such requirements are in effect on the date of preparation of such survey, (v) sufficient for the Title Company to remove all standard survey exceptions from the Mortgage Policy relating to such Mortgaged Property and issue the endorsements of the type required by paragraph (f) of the definition of Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and (vi) otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Surviving Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries outstanding immediately after giving effect to the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date.
“Swap Contract” means (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 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 (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark to market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined by the Hedge Bank (or the Parent Borrower, if no Hedge Bank is party to such Swap Contract) in accordance with the terms thereof and in accordance with customary methods for calculating mark-to-market values under similar arrangements by the Hedge Bank (or the Parent Borrower, if no Hedge Bank is party to such Swap Contract).
“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.
“Swing Line Exposure” means, at any time for any Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans outstanding at such time.
“Swing Line Lender” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.
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“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
“Swing Line Loans” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04(a).
“Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $40,000,000 and (b) the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Commitments.
“Syndication Agent” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as Syndication Agent under this Agreement and each other Person identified as a “syndication agent” or “co-syndication agent” in any other Loan Document.
“TARGET Day” means any day on which (i) TARGET2 is open for settlement of payments in Euro and (ii) banks are open for dealings in deposits in Euro in the London interbank market.
“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.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authorities, and all liabilities (including additions to tax, penalties and interest) with respect thereto.
“Term A Commitment” means the 2023 Term A Commitment.
“Term A Facility” means the 2023 Term A Commitment and the 2023 Term A Loans made hereunder.
“Term A Lender” means the 2023 Term A Lenders.
“Term A Loans” means the 2023 Term A Loans.
“Term B-1 Commitment” means, as to each Term B-1 Lender, its obligation to make a Term B-1 Loan to the Parent Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Term B-1 Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Term B-1 Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. The initial aggregate amount of the Term B-1 Commitments is $6,750,000,000.
“Term B-1 Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Term B-1 Commitment or a Term B-1 Loan at such time.
“Term B-1 Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).
“Term B-2 Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Amendment No. 1 on the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date.
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“Term B-3 Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has an Additional Term B-3 Commitment, a Term B-3 Loan, Additional Incremental Term B-3 Commitment or a Second Additional Term B-3 Commitment at such time.
“Term B-3 Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).
“Term B-4 Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has an Additional Term B-4 Commitment or a Term B-4 Loan at such time.
“Term B-4 Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).
“Term B-5 Base Rate Loan” means a Term B-5 Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Base Rate.
“Term B-5 Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has an Additional Term B-5 Commitment or a Term B-5 Loan at such time.
“Term B-5 Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).
“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, the EURIBOR Rate or the CDOR RateTerm CORRA.
“Term Benchmark Borrowing” means any Borrowing of Term Benchmark Loans.
“Term Benchmark Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on a Term Benchmark.
“Term Borrowing” means a Borrowing in respect of a Class of Term Loans.
“Term Commitments” means a Term A Commitment, Term B-1 Commitment, Additional Term B-3 Commitment, Additional Incremental Term B-3 Commitment, Second Additional Term B-3 Commitment, Additional Term B-4 Commitment, Additional Term B-5 Commitment or a commitment in respect of any Incremental Term Loans or any combination thereof, as the context may require.
“Term CORRA” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, the Term CORRA Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term CORRA Determination Day”) that is two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term CORRA Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 1:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on any Periodic Term CORRA Determination Day the Term CORRA Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term CORRA Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term CORRA Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term CORRA will be the Term CORRA Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term CORRA Administrator on the first preceding Business Day for which such Term CORRA Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term CORRA Administrator so long as such first preceding Business Day is not more than five (5) Business Days prior to such Periodic Term CORRA Determination Day; provided, further, that if Term CORRA shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term CORRA shall be deemed to be the Floor.
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“Term CORRA Administrator” means Candeal Benchmark Administration Services Inc., TSX Inc., or any successor administrator.
“Term CORRA Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Term CORRA Reelection Event.
“Term CORRA Reelection Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term CORRA has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term CORRA is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event, has previously occurred resulting in a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 3.02(b) that is not Term CORRA.
“Term CORRA Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on CORRA.
“Term Lenders” means the Term A Lenders, Term B-1 Lenders, the Term B-3 Lenders, the Term B-4 Lenders, Term B-5 Lenders, the Lenders with Incremental Term Loans and the Lenders with Extended Term Loans.
“Term Loans” means the Term A Loans, Term B-1 Loans, the Term B-2 Loans, the Term B-3 Loans, the Term B-4 Loans, Term B-5 Loans, the Incremental Term Loans and the Extended Term Loans.
“Term Note” means a promissory note of the Borrowers payable to any Term Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-1 hereto with appropriate insertions, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Term Lender resulting from any Class of Term Loans made by such Term Lender.
“Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.
“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.
“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding Business Day is not more than five (5) Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.
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“Test Period” means, at any date of determination, the most recently completed four consecutive fiscal quarters of Holdings ending on or prior to such date for which financial statements have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b).
“THI” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement.
“Threshold Amount” means the greater of (x) $250,000,000 and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period.
“Tim Hortons Property” means any “Property” (as defined in the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture) or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, of the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Issuer or any Ratably Secured Existing Notes Guarantor.
“Title Company” means any title insurance company as shall be retained by Borrower to issue the Mortgage Policies and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Total Assets” means the total assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of Holdings delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or, for the period prior to the time any such statements are so delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b), the Pro Forma Balance Sheet.
“Total Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt as of the last day of such Test Period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for such Test Period.
“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.
“Transaction” means, collectively, (a) the Equity Contribution, (b) the Acquisition, (c) the funding of the Term B-1 Loans and, if applicable, the Initial Revolving Borrowing on the Closing Date, (d) the funding of the Senior Secured Notes on or prior to the Closing Date, (e) the Refinancing, (f) the consummation of any other transactions in connection with the foregoing and (g) the payment of Transaction Expenses.
“Transaction Expenses” means any fees or expenses incurred or paid by Holdings, the Borrowers, or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transaction, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in connection therewith.
“Transformative Event” means any merger, acquisition, amalgamation, investment, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or disposition that (a) is not permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, (b) if permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, would not provide Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility under the Loan Documents for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as reasonably determined by the Borrower acting in good faith or (c) involves consideration in excess of the lesser of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period.
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“Trustee” means (i) Wilmington Trust, National Association under the terms of the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and (ii) Wilmington Trust, National Association under the terms of the New Senior Secured Notes Indenture.
“Type” means, (i) with respect to a Term B-5 Loan, its character as a Term B-5 Base Rate Loan or a Adjusted Term SOFR Rate Loan and (ii) with respect to any Pro Rata Loan, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Pro Rata Loan, or on the Pro Rata Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the EURIBOR Rate, the Base Rate, the CDOR RateTerm CORRA or the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR.
“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. Security Agreement” means, collectively, the Security Agreement executed by the Loan Parties party thereto on the Closing Date substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 as supplemented by any Security Agreement Supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.10
“UCP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
“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 Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Unaudited Financial Statements” means the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, changes in equity and cash flows of each of THI and BKW, covering any of the first three fiscal quarters that have ended after the most recent fiscal year covered by the Audited Financial Statements and at least forty-five (45) days before the Closing Date.
“Undisclosed Administration” means in relation to a Lender or its parent company the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender or such parent company is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed.
“Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or
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similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“United States Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.
“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) each Subsidiary of Holdings listed on Schedule 1.01B, (ii) any Subsidiary of Holdings (other than any Parent Guarantor or Borrower) designated by the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of Holdings as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13 subsequent to the Closing Date, (iii) any Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing, and (iv) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“USA 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)), as amended or modified from time to time.
“WBS Securitization” means any of one or more securitization or financing transactions, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated, refinanced or refunded from time to time, pursuant to which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Person that after giving effect to the relevant transaction will be a parent entity of one or more Securitization Subsidiaries sells, transfers, pledges, contributes or otherwise conveys, directly or indirectly, Securitization Assets (whether now existing or arising in the future) relating to one or more brands or lines of business of Holdings or its Subsidiaries to one or more Securitization Subsidiaries or any other Person and such Securitization Subsidiaries engage Holdings or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or one or more third-parties to manage and service such Securitization Assets and Securitization Assets arising in the future related to such brands or lines of business.
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
“Wholly-Owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) director’s qualifying shares and (y) shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Law) are owned by such Person and/or by one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Withdrawal Liability” means the liability of 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,
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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.
Section 1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
(b) (i) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.
(ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.
(iii) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.
(iv) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.
(c) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(d) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Section 1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio and the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.
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(c) Where reference is made to “Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis” or similar language, such consolidation shall not include any Subsidiaries of Holdings other than Restricted Subsidiaries.
(d) In the event that Holdings elects to prepare its financial statements in accordance with IFRS and such election results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms (collectively, the “Accounting Changes”) in this Agreement, the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into good faith negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement (including the levels applicable herein to any computation of the Total Leverage Ratio and the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio) so as to reflect equitably the Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating Holdings’ financial condition shall be substantially the same after such change as if such change had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed in accordance with GAAP (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower) (it being agreed that the reconciliation between GAAP and IFRS used in such determination shall be made available to Lenders) as if such change had not occurred.
Section 1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
Section 1.05 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.
Section 1.06 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Section 1.07 Timing of Payment or Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of Interest Period) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.
Section 1.08 Currency Equivalents Generally.
(a) The Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Dollar Equivalent of any Alternative Currency Letter of Credit as of each date (with such date to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) that is on or about the date of each request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, using the Exchange Rate for the applicable currency in relation to Dollars in effect on the date of determination, and each such amount shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such Letter of Credit until the next required calculation thereof pursuant to this Section 1.08(a).
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(b) The Administrative Agent shall determine the Dollar Equivalent of any Borrowing denominated in any Revolving Alternative Currency as of each date (with such date to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) that is on or about the date of a Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing, in each case using the Exchange Rate for the applicable currency in relation to Dollars in effect on the date of determination, and each such amount shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such Borrowing until the next required calculation thereof pursuant to this Section 1.08(b).
(c) The Dollar Equivalent of any L/C Borrowing made by any L/C Issuer in any Revolving Alternative Currency and not reimbursed by the Borrowers shall be determined as set forth in Section 2.03(c). In addition, the Dollar Equivalent of the L/C Exposure shall be determined as set forth in Section 2.03(f), at the time and in the circumstances specified therein.
(d) The Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall notify the Borrower, the applicable Lenders and the applicable L/C Issuer of each calculation of the Dollar Equivalent of each Letter of Credit denominated in any Revolving Alternative Currency and each Borrowing in any Revolving Alternative Currency.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 7.01, 7.02 and 7.03 with respect to any amount of Indebtedness or Investment in a currency other than Dollars, no Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Lien, Indebtedness or Investment is incurred; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.08 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred at any time under such Sections.
(f) For purposes of determining compliance under Sections 7.02, 7.05 and 7.06, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars in a manner consistent with that used in calculating net income in Holdings’ annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be deemed to apply to the determination of any amount of Indebtedness.
(g) For purposes of determining compliance with any restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the Dollar Equivalent of the principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the Exchange Rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance would cause the applicable restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance, such 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 extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased.
Section 1.09 Certain Calculations and Tests.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, when calculating any applicable ratio or determining other compliance with this Agreement (including the determination of compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom) in connection with a
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Specified Transaction undertaken in connection with the consummation of a Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of such ratio and determination of whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom or other applicable covenant shall, at the option of the Parent Borrower (the Parent Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Acquisition, an “LCA Election”), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the “LCA Test Date”) and if, after such ratios and other provisions are measured on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other Specified Transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they occurred at the beginning of the four consecutive fiscal quarter period being used to calculate such financial ratio ending prior to the LCA Test Date, Holdings or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with such ratios and provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, (x) if any of such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Acquisition, such ratios and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Acquisition is permitted hereunder and (y) such ratios and other provisions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition or related Specified Transactions. If Parent Borrower has made an LCA Election for any Limited Condition Acquisition, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any ratio contained in Section 7.09) or basket availability with respect to any other Specified Transaction on or following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, pro forma compliance with Section 7.09 hereof, any First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio test, any Total Leverage Ratio test and/or any Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “Incurrence Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence-Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence, except that incurrences of Indebtedness and Liens constituting Fixed Amounts shall be taken into account for purposes of Incurrence Based Amounts other than Incurrence Based Amounts contained in Section 7.01 or Section 7.03.
(c) Effective as of the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, (i) the usage of all Fixed Amounts after the Closing Date and prior to the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date shall be disregarded, (ii) the amount utilized by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries under all Fixed Amounts shall be deemed to be $0 and (iii) all such applicable usages shall be deemed permitted under Article VII.
Section 1.10 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in Dollars or a Revolving Alternative Currency may be derived from an interest rate
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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 or a Term CORRA Reelection Event, Section 3.02(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and their respective 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 the Borrowers, 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 1.11 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.
(a) The Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Dollar Equivalent amounts of Term Benchmark Borrowings or RFR Borrowings or Letter of Credit extensions denominated in Alternative Currencies. Such Dollar Equivalent shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such amounts until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Holdings hereunder, calculating financial covenants hereunder or calculating negative covenant baskets hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any Agreed Currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable.
(b) Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Term Benchmark Loan or an RFR Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Borrowing, Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the Dollar Equivalent of such amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be.
Section 1.12 Covenant Election. In connection with any assignment or designation of a Successor Holdings or Successor Parent Guarantor pursuant to Section 7.04(h), the Parent Borrower may elect to apply the negative covenants under Article VII to Successor Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Successor Parent Guarantor, as applicable, mutatis mutuandis, including with respect to all baskets, exceptions and defined terms related thereto. The Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and any Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 1.12.
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Section 1.13 Cashless Rolls. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, to the extent that any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans with Incremental Term Loans, any Extended Term Loans, loans made pursuant to any Additional Revolving Credit Commitment, loans made pursuant to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or loans incurred under a new credit facility, in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in Dollars”, “in immediately available funds”, “in cash” or any other similar requirement.
The Commitments and Credit Extensions
Section 2.01 The Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein:
(a) [Reserved].
(b) The Term B-5 Borrowings. (i) Each Additional Term B-5 Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrowers a single loan denominated in Dollars in a principal amount equal to such Additional Term B-5 Lender’s Additional Term B-5 Commitment on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date or the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date, as applicable and (ii) the Converted Term B-4 Loan of each applicable Lender shall be converted into a Term B-5 Loan of such Lender as of the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Lender’s Converted B-4 Term Loan immediately prior to such conversion. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(b) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Term B-5 Loans may be Term B-5 Base Rate Loans or Term Benchmark Loans, as further provided herein.
(c) The 2023 Term A Borrowing. Each 2023 Term A Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrowers a single loan denominated in Dollars in a principal amount equal to such 2023 Term A Lender’s 2023 Term A Commitment on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date (each a “2023 Term A Loan”). Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(c) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. 2023 Term A Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Term Benchmark Loans, as further provided herein.
(d) The Revolving Credit Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make (or cause its Applicable Lending Office to make) Revolving Credit Loans from time to time during the Availability Period in Dollars or in any Revolving Alternative Currency in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01(d), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(d). Revolving Credit Loans denominated in (w) Dollars may be Base Rate Loans or Term Benchmark Loans, (x) Canadian Dollars may be Base Rate Loans or Term Benchmark Loans, (y) Euros may be Term Benchmark Loans and (z) any other Agreed Currency added pursuant to the definition of “Revolving Alternative Currency” shall be Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, as applicable, in each case of the same Agreed Currency, in each case, as further provided herein.
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Section 2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a) Each Term Loan Borrowing, each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term Benchmark Loans shall be made upon the Parent Borrower’s irrevocable notice, on behalf of the Borrowers, to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (with conforming changes to reflect the interest rate provisions applicable to the relevant Loans) and (a) in the case of Term Benchmark Borrowings denominated in Dollars, Euros or Canadian Dollars not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided, that, in the case of the Term Loan Borrowings incurred on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, (b) in the case of an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, five Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (c) with respect to Base Rate Loans, not later than 1:00 p.m. Local Time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the proposed Borrowing. Each telephonic notice by the Parent Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, telecopy or electronic transmission to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Borrowing Minimum or a whole multiple of the Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof. Except as provided in Section 2.03(c) and Section 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Borrowing Minimum or a whole multiple of the Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrowers are requesting a Term B-5 Borrowing, a Term A Borrowing, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term Benchmark Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Class, currency and principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and (vi) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.02(b). If no currency is specified with respect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing that is a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing, then the Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected Dollars; provided that the Borrowers may not elect to convert any Borrowing denominated in a Revolving Alternative Currency (other than Canadian Dollars) to a Base Rate Loan and may not change the currency in which any Borrowing is denominated. If the Borrowers fail to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fail to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made or continued as, or converted to (x) with respect to Term B-5 Dollars, Term B-5 Base Rate Loans, (y) with respect to Term A Loans or Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars, Base Rate Loans, and (z) with respect to Loans denominated in any Revolving Alternative Currency (other than Canadian Dollars), Term Benchmark Loans with an Interest Period of one month. Any such automatic conversion or continuation shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term Benchmark Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fail to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrowers and Lenders acknowledge and agree that any conversion or continuation of an existing Loan shall be deemed to be a continuation of that Loan with a converted interest rate methodology and not a new Loan.
(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable
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Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Appropriate Lender of the details of any automatic conversion or continuation described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make (or cause its Applicable Lending Office to make) the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent by wire transfer in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrowers designated in the Committed Loan Notice in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Parent Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent and designated by the Parent Borrower in the Committed Loan Notice with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Parent Borrower; provided that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Parent Borrower, there are Swing Line Loans or L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied first, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, second, to the payment in full of any such Swing Line Loans, and third, to the Parent Borrower as provided above.
Except as otherwise provided herein, a Term Benchmark Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Term Benchmark Loan unless the Borrowers pay the amount due, if any, under Section 3.04 in connection therewith. During the existence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may require that (i) no Loans denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars may be converted to or continued as Term Benchmark Loans, (ii) no outstanding Loans denominated in any currency other than Dollars or Canadian Dollars may be continued for an Interest Period of more than one month’s duration and (iii) unless repaid, each Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term Benchmark Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Base Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, EURIBOR Rate, CDOR RateTerm CORRA, Adjusted Daily Simple RFR or Daily Simple RFR by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
Anything in clauses (a) to (d) above to the contrary notwithstanding, after giving effect to all Term Borrowings and Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than fifteen (15) Interest Periods in effect at any time for all Borrowings of Term Benchmark Loans in the aggregate.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, interest on all Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars outstanding immediately prior to the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date, if any, shall continue to accrue and be paid based upon the “CDOR Rate” applicable pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date solely until the expiration of the current “Interest Period” (as defined in the Credit Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date and taking into account any grace periods or extensions of such “Interest Period” approved prior to the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date) applicable thereto (at
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which time such Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars may be reborrowed as or converted to Term Benchmark Borrowings in accordance with this Section 2.02).
Section 2.03 Letters of Credit.
(a) The Letter of Credit Commitments.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (1) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (x) from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period for the Revolving Credit Facility, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or any Revolving Alternative Currency, in each case for the account of the Borrowers (provided that any Letter of Credit may be for the benefit of any Subsidiary of Holdings) and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (y) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit and (2) the Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and, except in the case of the following clause (w), no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if immediately after giving effect to such L/C Credit Extension, (w) the aggregate L/C Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer would exceed such L/C Issuer’s L/C Issuer Sublimit, (x) the aggregate L/C Exposure would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (y) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers’ ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrowers may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. It is hereby acknowledged and agreed thatOn and after the Amendment 9. Effective Date, each of the letters of credit described on Schedule 2.03(a) (as amended on such date) (the “Existing Letters of Credit”) shall constitute a “Letter of Credit” for all purposes of this Agreement and shall be deemed issued under this Agreement on the Closing Date.Amendment 9 Effective Date; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit issued for the account of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (for purposes of this paragraph, “Original Applicant”) and set forth on Schedule 2.03(a), (i) the Borrower shall be primarily liable for, and hereby assumes, all obligations of Original Applicant under such Existing Letters of Credit, the related letter of credit applications, and any other instruments, agreements and documents submitted by Original Applicant to, or entered into by Original Applicant with, the applicable L/C Issuer evidencing any obligations of Original Applicant to such L/C Issuer arising in connection with such Existing Letters of Credit, including without limitation the obligation to pay, and Borrower hereby agrees that it will pay, when due all sums now due and owing or to become due or owing under or in connection with any of the foregoing documents, and will hereafter faithfully perform and be bound by all of the terms and conditions thereof (provided, however, that in the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any of the foregoing documents, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control) and (ii) the Borrower hereby agrees that it shall be deemed to be the applicant with respect to such Existing Letters of Credit.
(ii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit (and, in the case of clauses (B) and (C), shall not issue any Letter of Credit) if:
(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or
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any Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or direct that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder);
(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless the relevant L/C Issuer has approved such expiry date;
(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless the relevant L/C Issuer has approved such expiry date (it being understood that the participations of the Revolving Credit Lenders in any undrawn Letter of Credit shall in any event terminate on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date);
(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Laws binding upon such L/C Issuer;
(E) the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or any Revolving Alternative Currency unless otherwise agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent; or
(F) the Letter of Credit is in an initial amount less than the Dollar Equivalent of $100,000.
(iii) An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto Renewal Letters of Credit.
(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Parent Borrower hand delivered or telecopied (or transmitted by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the L/C Issuer) to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the relevant L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., Local Time, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be; or, in each case, such later date and time as the relevant L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer: (a) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (b) the amount and currency thereof; (c) the expiry date thereof; (d) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (e) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (f) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (g) such
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other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request. If requested by the L/C Issuer, the Parent Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the L/C Issuer’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the relevant L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the relevant L/C Issuer may reasonably request.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Parent Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the relevant L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrowers or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, acquire from the relevant L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
(iii) With respect to standby Letters of Credit only, if the Parent Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Nonrenewal Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrowers shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant L/C Issuer for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the applicable Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal if (A) the relevant L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone, followed promptly in writing, or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date from the Administrative Agent or any Revolving Credit Lender, as applicable, or the Parent Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied.
(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the relevant L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall notify promptly the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. On the Business Day immediately following the Business Day on
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which the Parent Borrower shall have received notice of any payment by an L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (or, if the Parent Borrower shall have received such notice later than 1:00 p.m. on any Business Day, on the second succeeding Business Day) (such date of payment, an “Honor Date”), the Borrowers shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such drawing using the Exchange Rate in relation to Dollars in effect on the Honor Date. If the Borrowers fail to so reimburse such L/C Issuer on the Honor Date (or if any such reimbursement payment is required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason), then (A) if such payment relates to an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, automatically and with no further action required, the Borrowers’ or such other Person’s obligation to reimburse the applicable L/C Borrowing shall be permanently converted into an obligation to reimburse in Dollars the Dollar Equivalent, calculated using the Exchange Rate on the Honor Date, of such L/C Borrowing and (B) in the case of each L/C Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer and each Appropriate Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing in Dollars (in the case of an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, using the Exchange Rate for the applicable Alternative Currency in relation to Dollars in effect on the date of determination) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Appropriate Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In the event that the Borrowers do not reimburse the L/C Issuer on the Business Day following the date it receives notice of the Honor Date (or, if the Borrowers shall have received such notice later than 1:00 p.m. on any Business Day, on the second succeeding Business Day), the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing denominated in Dollars of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on such date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice. For the avoidance of doubt, if any drawing occurs under a Letter of Credit and such drawing is not reimbursed on the same day, such drawing shall, without duplication, accrue interest at the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility until the date of reimbursement.
(ii) Each Revolving Credit Lender (including any such Lender acting as an L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent in Dollars for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office for payments in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.04(c)(iii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the relevant L/C Issuer.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount in respect of a Letter of Credit that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in Dollars in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall
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constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.
(iv) Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer.
(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse an L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the relevant L/C Issuer, a Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default; or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans (but not L/C Advances) pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Parent Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
(vi) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. A certificate of the relevant L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.
(vii) If, at any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with this Section 2.03(c), the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrowers or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to each Revolving Credit Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
(viii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the NYFRB Rate.
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(d) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit issued by it and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Loan Party may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the relevant L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the relevant L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
(v) any exchange, release or nonperfection of any Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from the Guaranty or any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations of any Loan Party in respect of such Letter of Credit; or
(vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party;
provided that the foregoing shall not excuse any L/C Issuer from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by the Borrowers that are caused by such L/C Issuer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.
(e) Role of L/C Issuers. Each Lender and the Borrowers agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the relevant L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Required Lenders or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action
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taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application. The Borrowers hereby assume all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrowers’ pursuing such rights and remedies as they may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 2.03(e); provided that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrowers may have a claim against an L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrowers, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrowers caused by such L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer’s willful or grossly negligent failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.
(f) Cash Collateral. (i) If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders or Required Lenders, as applicable, require the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 8.02(a)(iii) or (ii) an Event of Default set forth under Section 8.01(f) (with respect to the Borrowers) or (g) occurs and is continuing, then the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount plus any accrued or unpaid fees thereon determined as of the date such Cash Collateral is provided). For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the relevant L/C Issuer and the Revolving Credit Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances in the relevant currencies in an amount equal to the L/C Exposure (determined as of the date of such Event of Default) (“Cash Collateral”) pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrowers hereby grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Revolving Credit Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in accounts satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders and may be invested in readily available Cash Equivalents at its sole discretion. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Secured Parties) or that the total amount of such funds is less than the L/C Exposure, the Borrowers will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the deposit accounts specified by the Administrative Agent, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such L/C Exposure over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be
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applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, to reimburse the relevant L/C Issuer. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the L/C Exposure plus costs incidental thereto and so long as no other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall be refunded to the Borrowers. If such Event of Default is cured or waived and no other Event of Default is then occurring and continuing, the amount of any Cash Collateral (including any accrued interest thereon) shall be refunded to the Borrowers.
(g) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent in Dollars for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement equal to the product of (i) Applicable Rate for Letter of Credit fees and (ii) the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such letter of credit fees shall be due and payable within fifteen (15) days after the last Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(h) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Borrowers shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee (a “Fronting Fee”) in Dollars with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by it equal to 0.125% per annum of the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. Such fronting fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fees shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. In addition, the Borrowers shall pay directly to each L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable within ten (10) Business Days of demand and are nonrefundable.
(i) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in any Letter of Credit Application, in the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.
(j) Addition of an L/C Issuer. A Revolving Credit Lender (or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates) may become an additional L/C Issuer hereunder pursuant to a written agreement among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of any such additional L/C Issuer.
(k) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrowers when a Letter of Credit is issued (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the UCP shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.
Section 2.04 Swing Line Loans.
(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees to make Swing Line Loans to the Borrowers from time to time on any Business Day
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during the Availability Period for the Revolving Credit Facility in Dollars, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Revolving Credit Exposure of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan (x) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect and (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Swing Line Sublimit; provided, further, that the Borrowers shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Parent Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $1,000,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will, provided that all applicable conditions in Section 4.02 are satisfied, not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrowers.
(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrowers (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Credit Lender make a Base Rate Loan in Dollars in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Parent Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in Dollars for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for payments not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrowers in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
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(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Revolving Credit Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan in Dollars and each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.
(iii) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error.
(iv) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans (but not to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans) pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after any Revolving Credit Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the NYFRB Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.
(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrowers for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Revolving
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Credit Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.
(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrowers shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
Section 2.05 Prepayments.
(a) Optional Prepayments.
(i) The Borrowers may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent by the Parent Borrower, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay any Borrowing of any Class in whole or in part without premium or penalty (except as set forth in Section 2.05(a)(iv)); provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent (A) not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans (or, in the case of the prepayment of any 2021 Revolving Credit Loans or the 2021 Term A Loans on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, on the date of prepayment thereof), (B) not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment of Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars (or, in the case of the prepayment of the Term B-4 Loans, any 2021 Revolving Credit Loans or the 2021 Term A Loans on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, on the date of prepayment thereof), (C) not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City Time five Business Days before the date of prepayment of RFR Borrowings denominated in Dollars, and (D) not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three Pro Rata Business Days before the date of prepayment of Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Euros, and (2) any prepayment of Term Benchmark Loans shall be in a principal amount of the Borrowing Minimum or a whole multiple of the Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof, in each case, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; provided, further, that prior to the Closing Date the Borrowers may not prepay Term B-1 Loans from Escrow Property unless, after giving effect to the release of Escrow Property to fund such prepayment, the remaining Escrow Property would be sufficient (without reinvestment) to pay all scheduled interest on the remaining Term B-1 Loans on the next scheduled Interest Payment Date and, without duplication, the prepayment price of the remaining Term B-1 Loans on such Interest Payment Date pursuant to Section 2.09(b)(ix), (it being understood that, if the Borrowers deliver evidence to the Administrative Agent that such condition would be satisfied after giving effect to a release of Escrow Property pursuant to a Partial Prepayment Notice (as defined in the Escrow Agreement) and the Borrowers request that the Administrative Agent deliver such Partial Prepayment Notice to the Escrow Agent, the Administrative Agent shall deliver such Partial Prepayment Notice to the Escrow Agent and shall apply the Escrow Property received in connection therewith to prepay Term B-1 Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)). Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class(es) and Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Parent Borrower, the Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Term Benchmark Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.04. Each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) shall be applied to the installments thereof as directed by the Parent Borrower (it being understood and agreed that if the Parent Borrower does not so direct at the time of such prepayment, such prepayment shall be applied against the scheduled repayments of Term Loans of the relevant Class under Section 2.07 in direct order of maturity) and shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
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(ii) The Borrowers may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of the prepayment and (2) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 or the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Parent Borrower, the Borrowers shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Parent Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under Section 2.05(a) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the Facilities, which refinancing shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.
(iv) In the event that the Borrowers (x) make any prepayment of Term B-5 Loans in connection with any Repricing Transaction or (y) effect any amendment of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction with respect to Term B-5 Loans, in each case prior to the six (6) month anniversary of the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, the Borrowers shall pay a premium in an amount equal to 1.00% of (A) in the case of clause (x), the amount of the Term B-5 Loan being prepaid or (B) in the case of clause (y), the aggregate amount of the applicable Term B-5 Loans outstanding immediately prior to such amendment, in each case to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the Term B-5 Lenders.
(b) Mandatory Prepayments.
(i) Within five (5) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a), the Borrowers shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to (A) 50% (such percentage as it may be reduced as described below, the “ECF Percentage”) of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements (commencing with the first full fiscal year ending after the Closing Date), minus (B) the sum of (1) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans during such fiscal year (and, without duplication of any deduction with respect to any other fiscal year, at the Parent Borrower’s option, following the last day of such fiscal year and on or prior to such required prepayment date) and (2) all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans during such fiscal year (and, without duplication of any deduction with respect to any other fiscal year, at the Parent Borrower’s option, following the last day of such fiscal year and on or prior to such required prepayment date) to the extent the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced by the amount of such payments, in the case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (1) and (2), to the extent such prepayments are not funded with the proceeds of Indebtedness or any Cure Amount; provided that (x) the ECF Percentage shall be 25% if the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (after giving effect to any prepayment of Loans after such year as contemplated above in clause (B)) as of the last day of the fiscal year covered by such financial statements was less than 4.00:1.00 and greater than or equal to 3.75:1.00 and (y) the ECF Percentage shall be 0% if the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (after giving effect to any prepayment of Loans after such year as contemplated above in clause (B)) as of the last day of the fiscal year covered by such financial statements was less than 3.75:1.00.
(ii) (A) Subject to Section 2.05(b)(ii)(B), if following the Closing Date (x) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary Disposes of any property or assets (other than any Disposition of any
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property or assets permitted by Section 7.05(a), (b), (c), (d) (to the extent constituting a Disposition to a Loan Party, by a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or pursuant to clause (iv) of the proviso thereto), (e), (f), (g), (i) (except as set forth in the proviso thereto), (j), (k), (n), (o), (p), (q), (r), (s) and (u)), or (y) any Casualty Event occurs, which in the aggregate results in the realization or receipt by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary of Net Cash Proceeds, the Borrowers shall make a prepayment, in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii)(C), of an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to the percentage represented by the quotient of (x) the Outstanding Amount of Term Loans at such time divided by (y) the sum of the Outstanding Amount of the Term Loans at such time and the amount of any other Indebtedness outstanding at such time that is secured by a Lien ranking pari passu with the Liens securing the Term Loans and requiring a prepayment from such Net Cash Proceeds (such percentage, the “Asset Percentage”) of all such Net Cash Proceeds realized or received; provided that no such prepayment shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii)(A) (I) with respect to such portion of such Net Cash Proceeds that the Parent Borrower shall have, on or prior to such date, given written notice to the Administrative Agent of its intent to reinvest in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii)(B) (which notice may only be provided if no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing) or (II) until the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds not reinvested in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii)(B) within the time periods set forth therein and not previously applied to such a prepayment exceeds $100,000,000 for any single Disposition or series of related Dispositions.
(B) With respect to any Net Cash Proceeds realized or received with respect to any Disposition (other than any Disposition specifically excluded from the application of Section 2.05(b)(ii)(A)) or any Casualty Event, at the option of the Borrowers, the Borrowers may reinvest an amount equal to all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in assets useful for its business (other than working capital, except for short-term capital assets) within (x) twelve (12) months following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds or (y) if the Borrowers enter into a legally binding commitment to reinvest such Net Cash Proceeds within twelve (12) months following receipt thereof, one hundred eighty (180) days after the twelve (12) month period that follows receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds; provided that (i) so long as an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrowers shall not be permitted to make any such reinvestments (other than pursuant to a legally binding commitment that the Borrowers entered into at a time when no Event of Default is continuing) and (ii) if any Net Cash Proceeds are not so reinvested by the deadline specified in clause (x) or (y) above, as applicable, or if any such Net Cash Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested at any time after delivery of a notice of reinvestment election, an amount equal to the Asset Percentage of any such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied, in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii)(C), to the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in this Section 2.05.
(C) On each occasion that the Borrowers must make a prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii), the Borrowers shall, within five (5) Business Days after the date of realization or receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds in the minimum amount specified above (or, in the case of prepayments required pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii)(B), within five (5) Business Days of the deadline specified in clause (x) or (y) thereof, as applicable, or of the date the Borrowers reasonably determine that such Net Cash Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested, as the case may be), make a prepayment, in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(v) below, of the principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to the Asset Percentage of such Net Cash Proceeds realized or received.
(iii) If, following the Closing Date, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary incurs or issues any (A) Refinancing Term Loans, (B) Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.03(w) or (C) Indebtedness not expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.03, the Borrowers shall cause to be prepaid an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans (or, if applicable, the Term Loans
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of the applicable Class) equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom on or prior to the date which is five (5) Business Days after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds. If the Borrowers obtain any Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments, the Borrowers shall, concurrently with the receipt thereof, terminate Revolving Credit Commitments (or, if applicable, the Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Class) in an equivalent amount pursuant to Section 2.06.
(iv) Each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied, first, to the installments thereof pro rata in direct order of maturity for the next four scheduled payments pursuant to Section 2.07(a) following the applicable prepayment event and, second, to the remaining installments thereof pro rata; provided that any mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b) (other than a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iii)(A) or (B) that the Parent Borrower elects to be applied to a specific Class) shall be applied on a pro rata basis to the Term A Loans and the Term B-5 Loans and, except to the extent a lesser prepayment is required pursuant to the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment or Extension Offer with respect to any applicable Class of Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, any Incremental Term Loans and Extended Term Loans. Each such prepayment of any Class of Term Loans shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages subject to clause (v) of this Section 2.05(b).
(v) The Parent Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of this Section 2.05(b) prior to 1:00 p.m. at least five (5) Business Days on the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the contents of the Parent Borrower’s prepayment notice and of such Appropriate Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the prepayment with respect to any Class of Term Loans. Each Appropriate Lender may reject all or a portion of its Applicable Percentage of any mandatory prepayment (such declined amounts, the “Declined Proceeds”) of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.05(b) by providing written notice (each, a “Rejection Notice”) to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower no later than 5:00 p.m. three (3) Business Days after the date of such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent regarding such prepayment. Each Rejection Notice from a given Lender shall specify the principal amount of the mandatory prepayment of Term Loans to be rejected by such Lender. If a Lender fails to deliver a Rejection Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above or such Rejection Notice fails to specify the principal amount of the Term Loans to be rejected, any such failure will be deemed an acceptance of the total amount of such mandatory repayment of Term Loans. Any Declined Proceeds shall be retained by the Borrowers (“Retained Declined Proceeds”).
(vi) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.05(b), (i) to the extent that any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary otherwise giving rise to a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) (a “Restricted Disposition”), the Net Cash Proceeds of any Casualty Event of a Restricted Subsidiary (a “Restricted Casualty Event”), or Excess Cash Flow would be prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being distributed or otherwise transferred to the Parent Borrower, the realization or receipt of the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be taken into account in measuring the Borrowers’ obligation to repay Term Loans at the times provided in Section 2.05(b)(i), or the Borrowers shall not be required to make a prepayment at the time provided in Section 2.05(b)(ii), as the case may be, for so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit such distribution or transfer (the Parent Borrower hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Restricted Subsidiary to promptly take all commercially reasonable actions available under the applicable local law to permit such repatriation), and once distribution or transfer of any of such affected
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Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law, the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow permitted to be distributed or transferred (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) will be promptly (and in any event not later than three (3) Business Days after such distribution or transfer is permitted) taken into account in measuring the Borrowers’ obligation to repay the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) to the extent provided herein and (ii) to the extent that the Parent Borrower has determined in good faith (as set forth in a written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent) that distribution or other transfer of any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Restricted Disposition or any Restricted Casualty Event or Excess Cash Flow would have a material adverse tax consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit received in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, the amount of the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected shall not be taken into account in measuring the Borrowers’ obligation to repay Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b).
(vii) If for any reason the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders at any time exceeds the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of currency fluctuations or the termination of such Revolving Credit Commitments on the Maturity Date with respect thereto), the Borrowers shall promptly prepay or cause to be promptly prepaid Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(vii) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments.
(viii) Not later than the 90th day following the Closing Date, the Borrower shall prepay a principal amount of Term B-1 Loans equal to the Dollar Equivalent principal amount of Ratably Secured Existing Notes that will remain outstanding following the 90th day after the Closing Date with each such prepayment to be applied pro rata to the Term B-1 Loans of each Lender and first to reduce the next four scheduled amortization payments with respect to the Term B-1 Loans and thereafter, pro rata to remaining scheduled amortization of the Term B-1 Loans.
(ix) In the event the Escrow Property is released to the Administrative Agent pursuant Section 3(b) of the Escrow Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall apply such funds when and as received to pay in full the outstanding Term B-1 Loans at a prepayment price equal to 99.0% of the principal amount thereof, together with all accrued interest thereon and all other Obligations then due and payable and, thereafter, shall remit any remaining amounts to the Parent Borrower.
(x) The Borrowers shall prepay all Term B-3 Loans that are not Converted Term B-3 Loans and that are outstanding immediately after the funding of the Term B-4 Loans on the Amendment No. 4 Effective Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no amount shall be payable under Section 3.04 in respect of the principal amount of any Converted Term B-3 Loans as a result of their conversion into Term B-4 Loans.
(xi) The Borrowers shall prepay all 2019 Term A Loans and all Loans outstanding under the 2019 Revolving Facility on the Amendment No. 6 Effective Date together with all accrued interest and fees (other than L/C Issuer fees) thereon as set forth in Amendment No. 6.
(xii) The Borrowers shall prepay on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date (x) all 2021 Term A Loans and all Loans outstanding under the 2021 Revolving Facility on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date together with all accrued interest and fees (other than L/C Issuer fees) thereon as set forth
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in Amendment No. 7 and (y) all Term B-4 Loans that are not Converted Term B-4 Loans and that are outstanding immediately after the funding of the Term B-5 Loans on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no amount shall be payable under Section 3.04 in respect of the principal amount of any Converted Term B-4 Loans as a result of their conversion into Term B-5 Loans.
(c) Interest, Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon in the currency in which such Loan is denominated, together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Term Benchmark Loan on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Term Benchmark Loan pursuant to Section 3.04.
Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Section 2.05, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Term Benchmark Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.05, prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to this Section 2.05 in respect of any such Term Benchmark Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrowers may, in their sole discretion, deposit with the Administrative Agent in the currency in which such Loan is denominated the amount of any such prepayment otherwise required to be made hereunder until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05. Such deposit shall constitute cash collateral for the Term Benchmark Loans to be so prepaid, provided that the Borrowers may at any time direct that such deposit be applied to make the applicable payment required pursuant to this Section 2.05.
(d) Discounted Voluntary Prepayments.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement (including Section 2.13) or any other Loan Document, the Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay one or more Classes of Term Loans to the Lenders at a discount to the par value of such Loans and on a non pro rata basis (each, a “Discounted Voluntary Prepayment”) pursuant to the procedures described in this Section 2.05(d), provided that (A) no proceeds from Revolving Credit Loans shall be used to consummate any such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, (B) any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be offered to all Term Lenders of such Class on a pro rata basis, (C) after giving effect to the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Term Loans that are held by Sponsor Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) shall not exceed 25% of the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Term Loans then outstanding and (D) the Parent Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, together with each Discounted Prepayment Option Notice, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower (1) stating that no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or under Section 8.01(f) or (g) (in each case, with respect to the Borrowers) has occurred and is continuing or would result from the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, (2) stating that each of the conditions to such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment contained in this Section 2.05(d) has been satisfied and (3) specifying the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of any Class offered to be prepaid pursuant to such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment.
(ii) To the extent the Borrowers seek to make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, the Parent Borrower will provide written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto (each, a “Discounted Prepayment Option Notice”) that the Borrowers desire to prepay Term Loans of one or more specified Classes in an aggregate principal amount specified therein by the Borrowers (each, a “Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount”), in each case at a discount to the par
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value of such Loans as specified below. The Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount of any Loans shall not be less than $10,000,000. The Discounted Prepayment Option Notice shall further specify with respect to the proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment (A) the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount for Loans to be prepaid, (B) a discount range (which may be a single percentage) selected by the Borrowers with respect to such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment equal to a percentage of par of the principal amount of the Loans to be prepaid (the “Discount Range”), and (C) the date by which Lenders are required to indicate their election to participate in such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, which shall be at least five Business Days from and including the date of the Discounted Prepayment Option Notice (the “Acceptance Date”).
(iii) Upon receipt of a Discounted Prepayment Option Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Lender thereof. On or prior to the Acceptance Date, each such Lender may specify by written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto (each, a “Lender Participation Notice”) to the Administrative Agent (A) a maximum discount to par (the “Acceptable Discount”) within the Discount Range (for example, a Lender specifying a discount to par of 20% would accept a purchase price of 80% of the par value of the Loans to be prepaid) and (B) a maximum principal amount (subject to rounding requirements specified by the Administrative Agent) of the Term Loans to be prepaid held by such Lender with respect to which such Lender is willing to permit a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment at the Acceptable Discount (“Offered Loans”). Based on the Acceptable Discounts and principal amounts of the Term Loans to be prepaid specified by the Lenders in the applicable Lender Participation Notice, the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrowers, shall determine the applicable discount for such Term Loans to be prepaid (the “Applicable Discount”), which Applicable Discount shall be (A) the percentage specified by the Borrowers if the Borrowers have selected a single percentage pursuant to Section 2.05(d)(ii) for the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment or (B) otherwise, the highest Acceptable Discount at which the Borrowers can pay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount in full (determined by adding the Outstanding Amount of Offered Loans commencing with the Offered Loans with the highest Acceptable Discount); provided, however, that in the event that such Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount cannot be repaid in full at any Acceptable Discount, the Applicable Discount shall be the lowest Acceptable Discount specified by the Lenders that is within the Discount Range. The Applicable Discount shall be applicable for all Lenders who have offered to participate in the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment and have Qualifying Loans. Any Lender with outstanding Term Loans to be prepaid whose Lender Participation Notice is not received by the Administrative Agent by the Acceptance Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment of any of its Loans at any discount to their par value within the Applicable Discount.
(iv) The Borrowers shall make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment by prepaying those Term Loans to be prepaid (or the respective portions thereof) offered by the Lenders (“Qualifying Lenders”) that specify an Acceptable Discount that is equal to or greater than the Applicable Discount (“Qualifying Loans”) at the Applicable Discount, provided that if the aggregate proceeds required to prepay all Qualifying Loans (disregarding any interest payable at such time) would exceed the amount of aggregate proceeds required to prepay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount, such amounts in each case calculated by applying the Applicable Discount, the Borrowers shall prepay such Qualifying Loans ratably among the Qualifying Lenders based on their respective principal amounts of such Qualifying Loans (subject to rounding requirements specified by the Administrative Agent). If the aggregate proceeds required to prepay all Qualifying Loans (disregarding any interest payable at such time) would be less than the amount of aggregate proceeds required to prepay the Proposed Discounted Prepayment Amount, such amounts in each case calculated by applying the Applicable Discount, the Borrowers shall prepay all Qualifying Loans.
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(v) Each Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be made within five (5) Business Days of the Acceptance Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably agree, given the time required to calculate the Applicable Discount and determine the amount and holders of Qualifying Loans), without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 3.04), upon irrevocable notice substantially in the form of Exhibit J hereto (each a “Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice”), delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such Discounted Voluntary Prepayment, which notice shall specify the date and amount of the Discounted Voluntary Prepayment and the Applicable Discount determined by the Administrative Agent. Upon receipt of any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable to the applicable Lenders, subject to the Applicable Discount on the applicable Loans, on the date specified therein together with accrued interest (on the par principal amount) to but not including such date on the amount prepaid. The par principal amount of each Discounted Voluntary Prepayment of a Term Loan shall be applied ratably to reduce the remaining installments of such Class of Term Loans (as applicable).
(vi) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Voluntary Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to procedures (including as to timing, rounding, minimum amounts, Type and Interest Periods and calculation of Applicable Discount in accordance with Section 2.05(d)(ii) above) established by the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower, each acting reasonably.
(vii) Prior to the delivery of a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment Notice, (A) upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Parent Borrower may withdraw or modify its offer to make a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment pursuant to any Discounted Prepayment Option Notice and (B) no Lender may withdraw its offer to participate in a Discounted Voluntary Prepayment pursuant to any Lender Participation Notice unless the terms of such proposed Discounted Voluntary Prepayment have been modified by the Parent Borrower after the date of such Lender Participation Notice.
(viii) Nothing in this Section 2.05(d) shall require the Borrowers to undertake any Discounted Voluntary Prepayment.
Section 2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Optional. The Borrowers may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the unused Commitments of any Class, or from time to time permanently reduce the unused Commitments of any Class; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent three (3) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (iii) the Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent repayment of the Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans of such Class, the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility (excluding the portion of such Class of Revolving Credit Exposures attributable to outstanding Letters of Credit if and to the extent that the Borrowers have made arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit and such L/C Issuer has released the Revolving Credit Lenders from their participation obligations with respect to such Letters of Credit) would exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments. The amount of any such Commitment reduction shall not be applied to the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit unless, after giving effect to any reduction of the Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the
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Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility, in which case such sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowers may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of the Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing, which refinancing shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.
(b) Mandatory. The Term B-1 Commitment of each Term Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of such Term B-1 Lender’s Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.01(a). The Additional Term B-5 Commitment of each Term Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of such Term Lender’s Term B-5 Loans pursuant to Section 2.01(b). The Term A Commitment of each Term A Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the making of such Term A Lender’s Term A Loans pursuant to Section 2.01(c). The 2019 Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the Amendment No. 6 Effective Date and the 2021 Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date. The Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date therefor. The Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the respective maturity dates applicable thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) the Closing Date has not occurred at or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on May 26, 2015 or (ii) the Escrow Property is distributed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3 of the Escrow Agreement, then all Commitments shall terminate at such time.
(c) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused Commitments of any Class under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of unused Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount by which such Commitments are reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.06). All Commitment Fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
Section 2.07 Repayment of Loans.
(a) Term Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Administrative Agent for (i) the ratable account of the Term Lenders holding each Class of Term B-5 Loans in Dollars on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with March 31June 28, 2024, an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.250.250626566% of the aggregate principal amount of the Term B-5 Loans funded or converted on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date and the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date and (ii) for the ratable account of the Term Lenders holding each class of Term A Loans in Dollars (x) on the last Business Date of each March, June, September and December, commencing with March 31, 2025, (A) an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.625% of the aggregate principal of Term A Loans funded or converted on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date, and (B) commencing with March 31, 2027, an aggregate principal amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate principal of Term A Loans funded or converted on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date and (y) on the Maturity Date for the Term A Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Term A Loans outstanding on such date; provided that payments required by Sections 2.07(a)(i)(A) and 2.07(a)(ii)(A) above shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with Section 2.05. In the event any Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans are made, such Incremental Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall be repaid by the Borrowers in the amounts and on the dates set forth in the definitive documentation with respect thereto and on the applicable Maturity Date thereof.
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(b) Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility the principal amount of each of its Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date in the currency in which such Revolving Credit Loan is denominated.
(c) Swing Line Loans. The Borrowers shall repay its Swing Line Loans on the earlier to occur of (i) the date five (5) Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility.
Section 2.08 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Term B-5 Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Term B-5 Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Term Benchmark Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Relevant Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency plus the Applicable Rate; (iv) each RFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR plus the Applicable Rate; and (v) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the relevant Applicable Rate for Revolving Credit Loans that are Base Rate Loans.
(b) The Borrowers shall pay interest on past due amounts under this Agreement at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand to the fullest extent permitted by and subject to applicable Laws, including in relation to any required additional agreements.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in the currency in which such Loan is denominated in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law. The Administrative Agent shall apply all Escrow Property released pursuant to Section 3(d) of the Escrow Agreement as and when received to pay interest due on the Term B-1 Loans on the applicable Interest Payment Date.
Section 2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(g) and (h):
(a) Commitment Fee. The Parent Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility a commitment fee in Dollars (the “Commitment Fee”) at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Rate on the actual daily amount by which the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender exceeds the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender. The Commitment Fee for the Revolving Credit Facility shall accrue at all times from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears within fifteen (15) days after the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the second such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date
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for the Revolving Credit Facility. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Commitment Fee for the New Revolving Facility shall accrue from the Incremental Amendment No. 3 Effective Date until the Maturity Date for the New Revolving Facility. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Commitment Fee for the 2019 Revolving Facility shall accrue from the Incremental Amendment No. 4 Closing Date until the Maturity Date for the 2019 Revolving Facility. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Commitment Fee for the 2021 Revolving Facility shall accrue from the Incremental Amendment No. 6 Closing Date until the Maturity Date for the 2021 Revolving Facility. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Commitment Fee for the 2023 Revolving Facility shall accrue from the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date until the Maturity Date for the 2023 Revolving Facility.
(b) Other Fees. The Parent Borrower shall pay to the Agents such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever (except as expressly agreed between the Borrowers and the applicable Agent).
Section 2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees.
(a) All computations of interest for (i) Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by the Prime Rate and (ii) Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty-five (365) days or three hundred sixty-six (366) days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which such Loan is made, and shall not accrue on such Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which such Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any such Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) For the purposes of this Agreement, whenever interest is to be calculated on the basis of a period of time other than a calendar year, the annual rate of interest to which each rate of interest determined pursuant to such calculation is equivalent for the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada) is such rate as so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the same is to be ascertained and divided by the number of days used in the basis of such determination.
(c) The parties acknowledge and agree that all calculations of interest under the Loan Documents are to be made on the basis of the nominal interest rate described herein and not on the basis of effective yearly rates or on any other basis which gives effect to the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest. The parties acknowledge that there is a material difference between the stated nominal interest rates and the effective yearly rates of interest and that they are capable of making the calculations required to determine such effective yearly rates of interest.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in no event will the aggregate “interest” (as defined in section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada)) payable by a Loan Party under any Loan Document exceed the maximum effective annual rate of interest on the “credit advanced” (as defined in that section 347) permitted under that section and, if any payment, collection or demand pursuant to such Loan Document in respect of “interest” (as defined in that section 347) is determined to be contrary to the provisions of such section 347, such payment, collection or demand will be deemed to have been made by mutual mistake of such Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and the
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applicable Lender or Lenders and the amount of such payment or collection will be refunded to such Loan Party only to the extent of the amount which is greater than the maximum effective annual rate permitted by such laws and only to the extent such laws are applicable. For purposes of determining compliance with such section 347, the effective annual rate of interest will be determined in accordance with generally accepted actuarial practices and principles over the term commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the Maturity Date and, in the event of dispute, a certificate of a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries appointed by the Administrative Agent will be prima facie evidence for the purposes of such determination.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Agreement if the amount of interest paid by a Loan Party to the Lenders is reduced through the application of Section 2.10(d) and, if, as a result of any restatement or other adjustment to the financial statements of such Loan Party (including any adjustment to unaudited financial statements as a result of subsequent audited financial statements) or for any other reason, the Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent determines that the basis upon which such amounts and such interest were reduced as aforesaid was inaccurate and, as a result of such occurrence the Applicable Rates or any fees for any period were lower than would otherwise be the case as a result of the application of Section 2.10(d), then the Loan Parties shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid by the Loan Parties for such period had the same not been reduced through the application of Section 2.10(d) over the amount of interest and fees actually paid by the Loan Parties for such period.
Section 2.11 Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by one or more entries in the Register. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register, the Register shall be conclusive in the absence of demonstrable error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to such Lender or its registered assigns, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records and, in the case of the Administrative Agent, entries in the Register, evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the Register and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the Register shall be conclusive in the absence of demonstrable error.
Section 2.12 Payments Generally.
(a) All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the
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account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m., Local Time, on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m., Local Time, shall (in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent) be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. All payments under each Loan Document of principal or interest in respect of any Loan (or of any breakage indemnity in respect of any Loan) shall be made in the currency of such Loan, and, except as otherwise expressly set forth in any Loan Document, all other payments under each Loan Document shall be made in Dollars.
(b) If any payment to be made by the Borrowers shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Term Benchmark Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.
(c) Unless the Parent Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrowers or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then:
(i) if the Borrowers failed to make such payment, then the applicable Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at (A) if such payment is denominated in Canadian Dollars, the annual rate of interest announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch as being its reference rate then in effect for determining interest rates on Canadian Dollar-denominated commercial loans made by it in Canada and (B) if such payment is denominated in any other currency, the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, it being understood that nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder; and
(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at (A) if such payment is denominated in Canadian Dollars, the annual rate of interest announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Toronto Branch as being its reference rate then in effect for determining interest rates on Canadian Dollar-denominated commercial loans made by it in Canada and (B) if such
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payment is denominated in any other currency, the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. When such Lender makes payment to the Administrative Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrowers, and the Borrowers shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at the interest rate applicable to such Loan. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Parent Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(c) shall be conclusive, absent demonstrable error.
(d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrowers by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such participation on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or purchase its participation.
(f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
(g) Whenever any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent and applied by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the order of priority set forth in Section 8.04. If the Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.
Section 2.13 Sharing of Payments. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or its participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of
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any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided that (x) if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon and (y) the provisions of this Section 2.13 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 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 L/C Obligations to any assignee or participant. The Borrowers agree that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrowers in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of demonstrable error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.13 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.
Section 2.14 Incremental Credit Extensions.
(a) At any time and from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), request to increase the amount of Term B-5 Loans or add one or more additional tranches of term loans (any such Term B-5 Loans or additional tranche of term loans, the “Incremental Term Loans”) and/or one or more increases in the Revolving Credit Commitments (a “Revolving Credit Commitment Increase”) and/or the establishment of one or more new revolving credit commitments (an “Additional Revolving Credit Commitment” and, together any Revolving Credit Commitment Increases, the “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments”; together with the Incremental Term Loans, the “Incremental Facilities”). Notwithstanding anything to contrary herein, the aggregate Dollar Equivalent amount of all Incremental Facilities (other than Refinancing Term Loans and Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments) (determined at the time of incurrence), together with the aggregate principal amount of all Permitted Credit Facilities Acquisition Debt and Permitted Alternative Incremental Facilities Debt, shall not exceed the sum of (i) the greater of (x) $2,500,000,000 and (y) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period prior to such date plus (ii) the amount of any voluntary prepayments of the Term Loans and voluntary permanent reductions of the Revolving Credit Commitments effected after the Closing Date (it being understood that any prepayment of Term Loans with the proceeds of substantially concurrent borrowings of new Loans hereunder or any reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments in connection with a substantially concurrent issuance of new revolving commitments hereunder shall not increase the calculation of the amount under this clause
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(ii)) plus (iii) unlimited additional Incremental Facilities, Permitted Credit Facilities Acquisition Debt and Permitted Alternative Incremental Facilities Debt so long as, after giving Pro Forma Effect thereto (assuming that any such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments are drawn in full) and after giving effect to any Permitted Acquisition consummated in connection therewith and all other appropriate Pro Forma Adjustments (but excluding the cash proceeds of any such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments), the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 4.50:1.00; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that Incremental Facilities, Permitted Credit Facilities Acquisition Debt and Permitted Alternative Incremental Facilities Debt may be incurred pursuant to this clause (iii) prior to utilization of the amount set forth in clause (i) above. Each Incremental Facility shall be in an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $25,000,000 in case of Incremental Term Loans or $15,000,000 in case of Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, provided that such amount may be less than the applicable minimum amount if such amount represents all the remaining availability hereunder as set forth above. Each Incremental Facility shall have the same guarantees as, and be secured on a pari passu basis by the same Collateral securing, all of the other Obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Any Incremental Term Loans (i) for purposes of prepayments, shall be treated substantially the same as (and in any event no more favorably than) the Term B-5 Loans, (ii) shall have interest rate margins and (subject to clauses (iii) and (iv)) amortization schedule as determined by the Borrowers and the lenders thereunder (provided that, except in the case of Refinancing Term Loans or other Incremental Term Loans (i) in an aggregate principal amount that does not exceed the greater of (x) $2,500,000,000 and (y) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period prior to such date or (ii) incurred after the one year anniversary of the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date), if the Applicable Rate (which, for such purposes only, shall be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount (with original issue discount being equated to interest based on an assumed four-year life to maturity) payable to all lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans (but excluding customary arrangement or commitment fees payable to any arranger or bookrunner or their Affiliates in connection therewith)) relating to any Incremental Term Loan exceeds the Applicable Rate (which, for such purposes only, shall be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount (with original issue discount being equated to interest based on an assumed four-year life to maturity) payable to all Lenders providing the Term B-5 Loans (but excluding customary arrangement or commitment fees payable to any arranger, bookrunner or agent or their Affiliates in connection therewith)) relating to any Term B-5 Loans as such Incremental Term Loans immediately prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment by more than 0.50%, the Applicable Rate relating to such Term B-5 Loans shall be adjusted to be equal to the Applicable Rate (which, for such purposes only, shall be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount (with original issue discount being equated to interest based on an assumed four-year life to maturity) payable to all lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans (but excluding customary arrangement or commitment fees payable to any arranger or bookrunner or their Affiliates in connection therewith)) relating to such Incremental Term Loans minus 0.50%; provided that, if the Incremental Term Loans include an interest rate floor greater than the applicable interest rate floor under such Term B-5 Loans, such differential between interest rate floors shall be equated to the Applicable Rate for purposes of determining whether an increase to the Applicable Rate under such Term B-5 Loans shall be required, (but only to the extent an increase in the interest rate floor in such Term B-5 Loans would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect thereunder, and in such case the interest rate floor (but not the Applicable Rate) applicable to such Term B-5 Loans shall be increased to the extent of such differential between interest rate floors), (iii) any Incremental Term Loan (other than a Refinancing Term Loan) shall not have a final maturity date earlier than the Maturity Date applicable to the Term B-5 Loans, the Revolving Credit Commitments or the Term A Loans, unless the amount of such Incremental Term Loans does not, at the time of incurrence, exceed the then remaining
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Earlier Maturing Basket Amount, (iv) any Incremental Term Loan (other than a Refinancing Term Loan) shall not have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term B-5 Loans unless the amount of such Incremental Term Loans does not, at the time of incurrence, exceed the then remaining Earlier Maturing Basket Amount and (v) shall have the same terms as the Term B-5 Loans or such terms as are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c) Any Revolving Credit Commitment Increase shall (i) have the same maturity date as the Revolving Credit Commitments, (ii) require no scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reduction prior to the final maturity of the Revolving Credit Commitments and (iii) be on the same terms and pursuant to the same documentation applicable to the Revolving Credit Commitments. Any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments (i) shall have interest rate margins and amortization schedule as determined by the Borrowers and the lenders thereunder, (ii) which are Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments shall not have a final maturity date earlier than the Maturity Date applicable to the Revolving Credit Commitments being refinanced thereby and (iii) shall have the same terms as the Revolving Credit Commitments or such terms as are reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(d) Each notice from the Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Term Loans and/or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments. Any additional bank, financial institution, existing Lender or other Person that elects to extend Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (any such bank, financial institution, existing Lender or other Person being called an “Additional Lender”) and, if not already a Lender, shall become a Lender under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Facility Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by Holdings, the Borrowers, such Additional Lender, the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender; provided that no Incremental Term Loans may be provided by a Sponsor Affiliated Lender unless, after giving effect to such Incremental Term Loans, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Term Loans that are held by Sponsor Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) does not exceed 25% of the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Term Loans then outstanding. For the avoidance of doubt, no L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender is required to act as such for any Additional Revolving Credit Commitments unless they so consent. No Incremental Facility Amendment shall require the consent of any Lenders other than the Additional Lenders with respect to such Incremental Facility Amendment. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, unless it so agrees. Commitments in respect of any Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments may become Commitments under this Agreement. An Incremental Facility Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to any Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.14. The effectiveness of any Incremental Facility Amendment shall, unless otherwise agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the Additional Lenders, be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (each, an “Incremental Facility Closing Date”) of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (it being understood that (x) all references to “the date of such Credit Extension” in Section 4.02 shall be deemed to refer to the Incremental Facility Closing Date and (y) if the proceeds of such Incremental Facility are to be used, in whole or in part, to finance a Limited Condition Acquisition, (1) the only representations and warranties that will be required to be true and correct in all material respects as of the applicable Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be the Specified Representations and (2) Section 4.02(b) shall not apply). The proceeds of any Incremental Term Loans will be used only for general corporate purposes (including, without limitation, Permitted Acquisitions). Upon each increase in the Revolving Credit
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Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.14, each Revolving Credit Lender immediately prior to such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assigned to each Lender providing a portion of the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment (each, an “Incremental Revolving Lender”) in respect of such increase, and each such Incremental Revolving Lender will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed, a portion of such Revolving Credit Lender’s participations hereunder in outstanding Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans such that, after giving effect to each such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding (i) participations hereunder in Letters of Credit and (ii) participations hereunder in Swing Line Loans held by each Revolving Credit Lender (including each such Incremental Revolving Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of all Revolving Credit Lenders represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Additionally, if any Revolving Credit Loans are outstanding at the time any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments are established, the Revolving Credit Lenders immediately after effectiveness of such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments shall purchase and assign at par such amounts of the Revolving Credit Loans outstanding at such time as the Administrative Agent may require such that each Revolving Credit Lender holds its Applicable Percentage of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding immediately after giving effect to all such assignments. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.
Section 2.15 Extensions of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, an “Extension Offer”) made from time to time by the Borrowers to all Lenders of any Class of Term Loans or any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments, in each case on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the respective Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Class) and on the same terms to each such Lender, the Borrowers are hereby permitted to consummate from time to time transactions with individual Lenders that accept the terms contained in such Extension Offers to extend the maturity date of each such Lender’s Term Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitments of the applicable Class and otherwise modify the terms of such Term Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to the terms of the relevant Extension Offer (including, without limitation, by increasing the interest rate or fees payable in respect of such Term Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings) and/or modifying the amortization schedule in respect of such Lender’s Term Loans) (each, an “Extension,” and each group of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, in each case as so extended, as well as the original Term Loans and the original Revolving Credit Commitments (in each case not so extended), being a separate Class of Term Loans from the Class of Term Loans from which they were converted, and any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments (as defined below) shall constitute a separate Class of Revolving Credit Commitments from the Class of Revolving Credit Commitments from which they were converted, it being understood that an Extension may be in the form of an increase in the amount of any other then outstanding Class of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments otherwise satisfying the criteria set forth below), so long as the following terms are satisfied: (i) except as to interest rates, fees and final maturity (which shall be determined by the Borrowers and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer), the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Revolving Credit Lender that agrees to an extension with respect to such Revolving Credit Commitment extended pursuant to an Extension (an “Extended Revolving Credit Commitment”), and the related outstandings, shall be a Revolving Credit Commitment (or related outstandings, as the case may be) with the same terms as the original Class of Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings); provided that at no time shall there be Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder (including Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and any original Revolving
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Credit Commitments) which have more than three different maturity dates, (ii) except as to interest rates, fees, amortization, final maturity date, premium, required prepayment dates and participation in prepayments (which shall, subject to immediately succeeding clauses (iii), (iv) and (v), be determined between the Borrowers and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer), the Term Loans of any Term Lender that agrees to an extension with respect to such Term Loans extended pursuant to any Extension (“Extended Term Loans”) shall have the same terms as the Class of Term Loans subject to such Extension Offer, (iii) the final maturity date of any Extended Term Loans shall be no earlier than the maturity date of the Class of Term Loans subject to such Extension Offer and the amortization schedule applicable to Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.07(a) for periods prior to the Maturity Date for Term B-5 Loans or Term A Loans may not be increased, (iv) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Extended Term Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans extended thereby, (v) any Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory repayments or prepayments hereunder, in each case as specified in the respective Extension Offer, (vi) if the aggregate principal amount of the Class of Term Loans (calculated on the face amount thereof) or Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be, in respect of which Term Lenders or Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be, shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class, as the case may be, offered to be extended by the Borrowers pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class, as the case may be, of such Term Lenders or Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be, shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Term Lenders or Revolving Credit Lenders, as the case may be, have accepted such Extension Offer, (vii) all documentation in respect of such Extension shall be consistent with the foregoing, (viii) any applicable Minimum Extension Condition shall be satisfied unless waived by the Borrowers and (ix) the Minimum Tranche Amount shall be satisfied unless waived by the Administrative Agent. No Lender shall be obligated to extend its Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments unless it so agrees.
(b) With respect to all Extensions consummated by the Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.15, (i) such Extensions shall not constitute voluntary or mandatory payments or prepayments for purposes of Section 2.05 and (ii) no Extension Offer is required to be in any minimum amount or any minimum increment, provided that (x) the Parent Borrower may at its election specify as a condition (a “Minimum Extension Condition”) to consummating any such Extension that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Offer in the Parent Borrower’s sole discretion and may be waived by the Parent Borrower) of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments (as applicable) of any or all applicable Classes be tendered, (y) no Class of Extended Term Loans shall be in a Dollar Equivalent amount of less than $25,000,000 and (z) no Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be in a Dollar Equivalent amount of less than $10,000,000 (each amount in clause (y) and (z) above, the “Minimum Tranche Amount”), unless such Minimum Tranche Amount is waived by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.15 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments on the such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) and hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Sections 2.05, 2.12 and 2.13) or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.15.
(c) No consent of any Lender or the Administrative Agent shall be required to effectuate any Extension, other than (A) the consent of each Lender agreeing to such Extension with
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respect to one or more of its Term Loans and/or Revolving Credit Commitments (or a portion thereof) and (B) with respect to any Extension of any Class of Revolving Credit Commitments, the consent of the relevant L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender (if such L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender is being requested to issue letters of credit or make swing line loans with respect to the Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments). All Extended Term Loans, Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and all obligations in respect thereof shall be Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that are secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with all other applicable Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Borrowers as may be necessary in order to establish new Classes in respect of Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans so extended and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in connection with the establishment of such new Classes, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.15. Without limiting the foregoing, in connection with any Extensions the respective Loan Parties shall (at their expense) amend (and the Administrative Agent is hereby directed to amend) any Mortgage that has a maturity date prior to the then Latest Maturity Date so that such maturity date is extended to the then Latest Maturity Date (or such later date as may be advised by local counsel to the Administrative Agent).
(d) In connection with any Extension, the Parent Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days’ (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior written notice thereof, and shall agree to such procedures (including, without limitation, regarding timing, rounding and other adjustments and to ensure reasonable administrative management of the credit facilities hereunder after such Extension), if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.15.
Section 2.16 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) The Commitment Fee shall cease to accrue on any of the Revolving Credit Commitments of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.09(a);
(b) the Commitment, Outstanding Amount of Term Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders, the Required Lenders, the Required Pro Rata Lenders or the Required Revolving Credit Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.01); provided that any waiver, amendment or modification of a type described in clause (a), (b) or (c) of the first proviso in Section 10.01 that would apply to the Commitments or Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender with respect to the effectiveness of such waiver, amendment or modification with respect to the Commitments or Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender;
(c) if any Swing Line Exposure or L/C Exposure exists at the time a Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i) all or any part of the Swing Line Exposure or L/C Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance
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with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s Swing Line Exposure and L/C Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments; provided that, subject to Section 10.25, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation;
(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall within three (3) Business Days following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Swing Line Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize for the benefit of the L/C Issuer only the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.03(f) for so long as such L/C Exposure is outstanding;
(iii) if the Borrowers Cash Collateralize any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(h) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure is Cash Collateralized;
(iv) if the L/C Exposures of the non-Defaulting Lenders are increased pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.09(a) and 2.03(h) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and
(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure is neither reallocated nor Cash Collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the L/C Issuer or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.03(h) with respect to such portion of such Defaulting Lender’s L/C Exposure shall be payable to the L/C Issuer until and to the extent that such L/C Exposure is reallocated and/or Cash Collateralized; and
(d) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Loan and the L/C Issuer shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it has received assurances satisfactory to it that non-Defaulting Lenders will cover the related exposure and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.16(c), and participating interests in any newly made Swing Line Loan or any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.16(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swing Line Exposures and L/C Exposures of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Revolving Credit Loans of the other
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Revolving Credit Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
Section 2.17 Permitted Debt Exchanges.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, a “Permitted Debt Exchange Offer”) made from time to time by the Parent Borrower to all Lenders (other than, with respect to any Permitted Debt Exchange Offer that constitutes an offering of securities, any Lender that, if requested by the Borrower, is unable to certify that it is (i) a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (ii) an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act) or (iii) not a “U.S. person” (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act)) with outstanding Term Loans of a particular Class, the Borrowers may from time to time consummate one or more exchanges of such Term Loans for Indebtedness (in the form of senior secured, senior unsecured, senior subordinated, or subordinated notes or loans) (such Indebtedness, “Permitted Debt Exchange Notes” and each such exchange, a “Permitted Debt Exchange”), so long as the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) each such Permitted Debt Exchange Offer shall be made on a pro rata basis to the Term Lenders (other than, with respect to any Permitted Debt Exchange Offer that constitutes an offering of securities, any Lender that, if requested by the Borrower, is unable to certify that it is (i) a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (ii) an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act) or (iii) not a “U.S. person” (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act)) of each applicable Class based on their respective aggregate principal amounts of outstanding Term Loans under each such Class;
(ii) the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount (calculated on the face amount thereof) of Term Loans so refinanced, except by an amount equal to any fees, expenses, commissions, underwriting discounts and premiums payable in connection with such Permitted Debt Exchange;
(iii) the stated final maturity of such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes is not earlier than the latest Maturity Date for the Class or Classes of Term Loans being exchanged, and such stated final maturity is not subject to any conditions that could result in such stated final maturity occurring on a date that precedes such latest maturity date (it being understood that acceleration or mandatory repayment, prepayment, redemption or repurchase of such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes upon the occurrence of an event of default, a change in control, an event of loss or an asset disposition shall not be deemed to constitute a change in the stated final maturity thereof) unless the amount of such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes does not, at the time of incurrence, exceed the then remaining Earlier Maturing Basket Amount (in which case, such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes may have an earlier maturity date so long as such maturity date is not prior to the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect);
(iv) such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes are not required to be repaid, prepaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased, whether on one or more fixed dates, upon the occurrence of one or more events or at the option of any holder thereof (except, in each case, upon the occurrence of an event of default, a change in control, an event of loss or an asset disposition) prior to the latest Maturity Date for the Class or Classes of Term Loans being exchanged,
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provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, scheduled amortization payments (however denominated, including scheduled offers to repurchase) of such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes shall be permitted so long as the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness shall be longer than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Class or Classes of Term Loans being exchanged unless the amount of such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes does not, at the time of incurrence, exceed the then remaining Earlier Maturing Basket Amount (in which case, such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes may have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity so long as such Weighted Average Life to Maturity is not less than three (3) years);
(v) no Restricted Subsidiary is a borrower or guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness unless such Restricted Subsidiary is or substantially concurrently becomes a Loan Party;
(vi) if such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes are secured, such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes are secured on a pari passu basis or junior priority basis to the Obligations and (A) such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes are not secured by any assets not securing the Obligations unless such assets substantially concurrently secure the Obligations and (B) the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent on their behalf) shall have (1) become party to the Notes Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof or (2) entered into a Customary Intercreditor Agreement with the Administrative Agent;
(vii) the terms and conditions of such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes (excluding pricing and optional prepayment or redemption terms or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Maturity Date of the Class or Classes of Term Loans being exchanged) reflect market terms and conditions at the time of incurrence or issuance; provided that if such Permitted Debt Exchange Notes contain any financial maintenance covenants, such covenants shall not be more restrictive than (or in addition to) those contained in this Agreement (unless such covenants are also added for the benefit of the Lenders under this Agreement, in which case any requirement to so comply shall not require the consent of any Lender or Agent hereunder);
(viii) all Term Loans exchanged under each applicable Class by the Borrowers pursuant to any Permitted Debt Exchange shall automatically be cancelled and retired by the Borrowers on date of the settlement thereof (and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, any applicable exchanging Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, or such other form as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, in respect thereof pursuant to which the respective Lender assigns its interest in the Term Loans being exchanged pursuant to the Permitted Debt Exchange to the Parent Borrower for immediate cancellation), and accrued and unpaid interest on such Term Loans shall be paid to the exchanging Lenders on the date of consummation of such Permitted Debt Exchange, or, if agreed to by the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the next scheduled Interest Payment Date with respect to such Term Loans (with such interest accruing until the date of consummation of such Permitted Debt Exchange);
(ix) if the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans (calculated on the face amount thereof) of a given Class tendered by Lenders in respect of the relevant Permitted Debt Exchange Offer (with no Lender being permitted to tender a principal amount of Term Loans which exceeds the principal amount thereof of the applicable Class actually held by it) shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of such Class offered to be exchanged by the Parent Borrower pursuant to such Permitted Debt Exchange Offer, then the
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Borrowers shall exchange Term Loans under the relevant Class tendered by such Lenders ratably up to such maximum based on the respective principal amounts so tendered, or, if such Permitted Debt Exchange Offer shall have been made with respect to multiple Classes without specifying a maximum aggregate principal amount offered to be exchanged for each Class, and the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans (calculated on the face amount thereof) of all Classes tendered by Lenders in respect of the relevant Permitted Debt Exchange Offer (with no Lender being permitted to tender a principal amount of Term Loans which exceeds the principal amount thereof actually held by it) shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Term Loans of all relevant Classes offered to be exchanged by the Parent Borrower pursuant to such Permitted Debt Exchange Offer, then the Borrowers shall exchange Term Loans across all Classes subject to such Permitted Debt Exchange Offer tendered by such Lenders ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts so tendered;
(x) all documentation in respect of such Permitted Debt Exchange shall be consistent with the foregoing, and all written communications generally directed to the Lenders in connection therewith shall be in form and substance consistent with the foregoing and made in consultation with the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent; and
(xi) any applicable Minimum Tender Condition or Maximum Tender Condition, as the case may be, shall be satisfied or waived by the Borrower.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Loans or Commitments exchanged pursuant to any Permitted Debt Exchange Offer.
(b) With respect to all Permitted Debt Exchanges effected by the Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Permitted Debt Exchange Offer shall be made for not less than $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Term Loans, provided that subject to the foregoing the Parent Borrower may at its election specify (A) as a condition (a “Minimum Tender Condition”) to consummating any such Permitted Debt Exchange that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Permitted Debt Exchange Offer in the Borrower’s discretion) of Term Loans of any or all applicable Classes be tendered and/or (B) as a condition (a “Maximum Tender Condition”) to consummating any such Permitted Debt Exchange that no more than a maximum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Permitted Debt Exchange Offer in the Borrower’s discretion) of Term Loans of any or all applicable Classes will be accepted for exchange. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby acknowledge and agree that the provisions of Sections 2.05, 2.06 and 2.13 do not apply to the Permitted Debt Exchange and the other transactions contemplated by this Section 2.17 and hereby agree not to assert any Default or Event of Default in connection with the implementation of any such Permitted Debt Exchange or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.17.
(c) In connection with each Permitted Debt Exchange, the Parent Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent at least five (5) Business Days’ (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior written notice thereof, and the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent, acting reasonably, shall mutually agree to such procedures as may be necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.17; provided that the terms of any Permitted Debt Exchange Offer shall provide that the date by which the relevant Lenders are required to indicate their election to participate in such Permitted Debt Exchange shall be not less than five (5) Business Days following the date on which the Permitted Debt Exchange Offer is made. The Parent Borrower shall provide the final results of such Permitted Debt Exchange to the Administrative Agent no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed date of effectiveness for such Permitted Debt Exchange (or such
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shorter period agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on such results.
(d) The Borrowers shall be responsible for compliance with, and hereby agrees to comply with, all applicable securities and other laws in connection with each Permitted Debt Exchange, it being understood and agreed that (i) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender assumes any responsibility in connection with the Borrower’s compliance with such laws in connection with any Permitted Debt Exchange and (ii) each Lender shall be solely responsible for its compliance with any applicable “insider trading” laws and regulations to which such Lender may be subject under the Exchange Act.
Section 2.18 Loan Funding. On the Closing Date, all proceeds of Loans shall be funded to or at the direction of the Parent Borrower (and not the Subsidiary Borrower) in the form of (i) Term B-1 Loans in an initial aggregate principal amount equal to $6,750,000,000 and (ii) any Revolving Credit Loans actually funded on the Closing Date. After the Closing Date, any and all additional credit amounts advanced pursuant to this Article II shall be funded to or at the direction of the Parent Borrower (and not the Subsidiary Borrower).
ARTICLE III
Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality
Taxes, Increased Costs Protection and Illegality
Section 3.01 Taxes.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 3.01, any and all payments by the Borrowers (the term Borrowers under this Article III being deemed to include any Subsidiary for whose account a Letter of Credit is issued) or any Guarantor to or for the account of any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes unless required by applicable Law; provided that the parties agree that, for purposes of FATCA, the Administrative Agent may in its sole discretion treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) the Parent Borrower, and deduct any amounts (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to so deduct), as if the Parent Borrower were a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code). If any applicable withholding agent shall be required by any Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to any Agent or any Lender, (i) if such Taxes are Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Borrower or applicable Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions have been made (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01), each of such Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such applicable withholding agent shall make such deductions, (iii) such applicable withholding agent shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (iv) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment by such applicable withholding agent (or, if receipts or evidence are not available within thirty (30) days, as soon as possible thereafter), such applicable withholding agent shall furnish to the Parent Borrower and such Agent or Lender (as the case may be) the original or a facsimile copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof to the extent such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(b) In addition, the Borrowers agree to pay all Other Taxes.
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(c) Without duplication of any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or Section 3.01(b), the Borrowers agree to indemnify each Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction in respect of amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable by such Agent and such Lender and (ii) any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Such Agent or Lender, as the case may be, will, at the Parent Borrower’s request, (A) provide the Parent Borrower with a written statement thereof setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of such amounts or (B) have the amount of such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes verified by an independent accountant selected by such Agent or Lender. Payment under this Section 3.01(c) shall be made within ten (10) days after the date such Lender or such Agent makes a demand therefor.
(d) If any Lender or Agent determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by a Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit an amount equal to such refund as soon as practicable after it is determined that such refund pertains to Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a Borrower or any Guarantor under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund plus any interest included in such refund by the relevant taxing authority attributable thereto) to the Borrowers, net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Borrowers, upon the request of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, agrees promptly to return an amount equal to such refund (plus any applicable interest, additions to tax or penalties) to such party in the event such party is required to repay such refund to the relevant taxing authority. Such Lender or Agent, as the case may be, shall, at the Parent Borrower’s request, provide the Parent Borrower with a copy of any notice of assessment or other evidence of the requirement to repay such refund received from the relevant taxing authority (provided that such Lender or Agent may delete any information therein that such Lender or Agent deems confidential). Nothing herein contained shall interfere with the right of a Lender or Agent to arrange its Tax affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit nor oblige any Lender or Agent to claim any Tax refund or to make available its Tax returns or disclose any information relating to its Tax affairs or any computations in respect thereof or require any Lender or Agent to do anything that would prejudice its ability to benefit from any other refunds, credits, reliefs, remissions or repayments to which it may be entitled.
(e) Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 3.01(a) or (c) with respect to such Lender it will, if requested by the Borrowers, use commercially reasonable efforts (subject to legal and regulatory restrictions), at Borrowers’ expense, to designate another Applicable Lending Office for any Loan or Letter of Credit affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Applicable Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided further that nothing in this Section 3.01(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrowers or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or (c).
(f) Each Lender shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, provide the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent with any documentation prescribed by law, or reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, any
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withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under any Loan Document. Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders such documentation (including any documentation specifically referenced below) expired, obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, deliver promptly to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by the applicable withholding agent) or promptly notify the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its inability to do so.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(i) Each Lender that is a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement two properly completed and duly signed original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding;
(ii) Each Lender that is not a “United States person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter when required by law or upon the reasonable request of the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent) whichever of the following is applicable:
(A) two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms) claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(B) two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms),
(C) in the case of a Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) or the Code, (x) a certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit L (any such certificate a “United States Tax Compliance Certificate”), or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent, to the effect that such Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Subsidiary Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and that no payments in connection with the Loan Documents are effectively connected with such Lender’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business and (y) two duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms),
(D) to the extent a Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership, or is a Lender that has granted a participation), Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Lender, accompanied by a Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor forms), United States Tax Compliance Certificate, Form W-9, Form W-8IMY (or other successor forms) or any other required information from each beneficial owner, as applicable (provided that, if the Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) and one or more direct or indirect partners are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance
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Certificate may be provided by such Lender on behalf of such direct or indirect partner(s)), or
(E) two duly completed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable U.S. federal income tax laws (including the Treasury regulations) as a basis for claiming a complete exemption from, or a reduction in, U.S. federal withholding tax on any payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents.
(iii) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if the Parent Borrower were treated as a “United States person “” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Sections 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Parent Borrower 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 Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to comply with their FATCA obligations, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s FATCA obligations and to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause (f), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.
(g) The Administrative Agent shall provide the Parent Borrower with two duly completed original copies of, if it is a United States person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that it is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding, and, if it is not a United States person, (1) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI with respect to payments to be received by it as a beneficial owner and (2) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (together with required accompanying documentation) with respect to payments to be received by it on behalf of the Lenders, and shall update such forms periodically upon the reasonable request of the Parent Borrower. Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause (g), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver any form that such Administrative Agent is not legally eligible to deliver.
(h) For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Lender” shall, for purposes of this Section 3.01, include any L/C Issuer and any Swing Line Lender.
Section 3.02 Inability to Determine Rates.
(a) [reserved]
(b) (i) Subject to clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section 3.02(b), if:
(A) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) (1) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the Term SOFR Rate, the EURIBOR Rate or the CDOR RateTerm CORRA (including because the Relevant Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period or (2) at any time, that
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adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, Daily Simple RFR or RFR for the applicable Agreed Currency; or
(B) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders (excluding for this purpose in the calculation of "“Required Lenders"” any Loans and commitments that are not and cannot be funded in the applicable currency) that (1) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the EURIBOR Rate or the CDOR RateTerm CORRA for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period or (2) at any time, the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for the applicable Agreed Currency will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Currency;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Parent Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Parent Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Parent Borrower delivers a new Committed Loan Notice in accordance with the terms of Section 2.02, (A) for Loans denominated in Dollars, (1) any Committed Loan Notice that requests the conversion of any Revolving Credit Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Credit Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Committed Loan Notice that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for (x) an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is not also the subject of Section 3.02(b)(i)(A) or (B) above or (y) a Base Rate Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings also is the subject of Section 3.02(b)(i)(A) or (B) above and (2) any Committed Loan Notice that requests an RFR Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for an Base Rate Borrowing, (B) for Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, any Committed Loan Notice that requests the conversion of any Revolving Credit Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Credit Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Committed Loan Notice that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for a Base Rate Borrowing if the CDOR RateTerm CORRA also is the subject of Section 3.02(b)(i)(A) or (B) above, and (C) for Loans denominated in a Revolving Alternative Currency (other than Canadian Dollars), any Committed Loan Notice that requests the conversion of any Revolving Credit Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Credit Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Committed Loan Notice that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing or an RFR Borrowing, in each case, for the relevant Benchmark, shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then all other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 3.02(b) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Parent Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Parent Borrower delivers a new Committed Loan Notice in accordance with the terms of Section 2.02, (A) for Loans denominated in Dollars, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted
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by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is not also the subject of Section 3.02(b)(i)(A) or (B) above or (y) a Base Rate Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings also is the subject of Section 3.02(b)(i)(A) or (B) above, on such day, and (2) any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute a Base Rate Loan, (B) for Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, any Committed Loan Notice that requests the conversion of any Revolving Credit Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Credit Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Committed Loan Notice that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for a Base Rate Borrowing if the CDOR RateTerm CORRA also is the subject of Section 3.02(b)(i)(A) or (B) above and (C) for Loans denominated in a Revolving Alternative Currency (other than Canadian Dollars), (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day) bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Revolving Alternative Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Revolving Alternative Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in any Revolving Alternative Currency shall, at the Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Parent Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, such Term Benchmark Loan denominated in any Revolving Alternative Currency shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars at such time and (2) any RFR Loan shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Revolving Alternative Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Revolving Alternative Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected RFR Loans denominated in a Revolving Alternative Currency, at the Borrower’s election, shall either (A) be converted into Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Revolving Alternative Currency) immediately or (B) be prepaid in full immediately.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document (and any Swap Contract shall be deemed not to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 3.02), if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to Dollars or Canadian Dollars for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to any Agreed Currency (other than Canadian Dollars) for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required
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Lenders (excluding for this purpose in the calculation of "“Required Lenders"” any Loans and commitments that are not and cannot be funded in the applicable currency).
(iii) 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document and subject to the proviso below in this paragraph, with respect to a Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars, if a Term CORRA Reelection Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, this clause (b)(iii) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Borrower a Term CORRA Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver a Term CORRA Notice after the occurrence of a Term CORRA Reelection Event and may do so in its sole discretion.
(iv) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders of (v) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (w) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (x) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (y) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (vi) below and (z) 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 3.02(b), including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or 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 3.02(b).
(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (a) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Rate, Term CORRA or EURIBOR) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (c) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
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(vi) Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Parent Borrower may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, either (x) the Parent Borrower 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 (A) an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) a Base Rate Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) any Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing denominated in a Revolving Alternative Currency shall be ineffective. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of Base Rate. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement for such Agreed Currency is implemented pursuant to this Section 3.02(b), (A) for Loans denominated in Dollars (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing denominated in Dollars so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) a Base Rate Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Dollar Borrowings is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day and (2) any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute a Base Rate Loan and (B) for Loans denominated in a Revolving Alternative Currency, (1) any Term Benchmark Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day) bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Revolving Alternative Currency (or, in the case of a Loan in Canadian Dollars, the Base Rate determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition thereof) plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Revolving Alternative Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in any Revolving Alternative Currency shall, at the Borrower’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Parent Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, such Term Benchmark Loan denominated in any Revolving Alternative Currency shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars at such time and (2) any RFR Loan shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Revolving Alternative Currency (or, in the case of a Loan in Canadian Dollars, the Base Rate determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition thereof) plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Revolving Alternative Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected RFR Loans denominated in any Revolving Alternative Currency, at the Borrower’s election, shall either (A) be converted into Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such Revolving Alternative Currency) immediately or (B) be prepaid in full immediately.
Section 3.03 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Term Benchmark Loans.
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(a) If any Lender determines that as a result of any Change in Law, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Loan or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.03(a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes indemnifiable under Section 3.01, (ii) Excluded Taxes described in clauses (b) through (e) of the definition of Excluded Taxes, (iii) Excluded Taxes described in clause (a) of the definition of Excluded Taxes to the extent such Taxes are imposed on or measured by such Lender’s net income or profits (or are franchise Taxes imposed in lieu thereof) or (iv) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.03(c)), then from time to time within fifteen (15) days after demand by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.05), the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction.
(b) If any Lender determines that as a result of any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, in each case after the Closing Date, or compliance by such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the charge and the calculation of such reduced rate of return (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.05), the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such demand.
(c) The Borrowers shall pay to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Term Benchmark Loans, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Term Benchmark Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive in the absence of demonstrable error), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Term Benchmark Loans, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error) which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Parent Borrower shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or cost from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or cost shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days after receipt of such notice.
(d) Subject to Section 3.05(b), failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.
(e) If any Lender requests compensation under this Section 3.03, then such Lender will, if requested by the Borrowers, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Applicable Lending Office for any Loan or Letter of Credit affected by such event; provided that such efforts are
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made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Applicable Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage; and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 3.03(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrowers or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.03(a), (b), (c) or (d).
Section 3.04 Funding Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrowers shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Term Benchmark Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period (or, in the case of any RFR Loan, other than on the Interest Payment Date) for such Loan; or
(b) any failure by the Borrowers (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan (other than a Base Rate Loan) on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrowers;
including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.
Section 3.05 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.
(a) Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III shall deliver a certificate to the Borrowers setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of demonstrable error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.
(b) With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Section 3.03 or Section 3.04, the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Parent Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that, if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrowers under Section 3.03, the Parent Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term Benchmark Loans from one Interest Period to another until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.05(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.
(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Term Benchmark Loans from one Interest Period to another, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Term Benchmark Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.05(b) hereof, such Lender’s Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Term Benchmark Loans (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Section 3.03 or Section 3.04 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:
(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be
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applied to such Lender’s Term Benchmark Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and
(ii) all Loans denominated in Dollars that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Term Benchmark Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Term Benchmark Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.
(d) If any Lender gives notice to the Parent Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Section 3.03 or Section 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of such Lender’s Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars pursuant to this Section 3.05 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Term Benchmark Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted to Term Benchmark Loans on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Term Benchmark Loans, as applicable, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Term Benchmark Loans, and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Commitments.
Section 3.06 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.
(a) If at any time (i) any Lender requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.03 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make Term Benchmark Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.03, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iii) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Parent Borrower may, on prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrowers in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (or, with respect to clause (iii) above, all of its rights and obligations with respect to the Class of Loans or Commitments that is the subject of the related consent, waiver or amendment) to one or more Eligible Assignees; provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrowers to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided, further, that (A) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.03 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (B) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable Eligible Assignees shall have agreed to the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents.
(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.06(a) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, as applicable (provided that the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption shall not render such assignment invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register) and (ii) deliver Notes, if any, evidencing such Loans to the Borrowers or Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, as applicable, (B) all obligations of the Loan Parties owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loan Documents and participations so assigned shall be paid in full by the assignee Lender or the Loan Parties (as applicable) to such assigning Lender concurrently with such assignment and assumption, any amounts
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owing to the assigning Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) under Section 3.04 as a consequence of such assignment and, in the case of an assignment of Term Loans in connection with a Repricing Transaction, the premium, if any, that would have been payable by the Borrowers on such date pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(iv) if such Lender’s Term Loans subject to such assignment had been prepaid on such date shall have been paid by the Borrowers to the assigning Lender and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, the assignor Lender shall deliver to the assignee Lender the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrowers, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, Commitments and participations, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time that it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (including the furnishing of a back-up standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer, or the depositing of cash collateral into a cash collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to each such outstanding Letter of Credit and the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.09.
(d) In the event that (i) the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent have requested that the Lenders (A) consent to an extension of the Maturity Date of any Class of Loans as permitted by Section 2.15, (B) consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or (C) agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 or all the Lenders with respect to a certain Class of the Loans and (iii) the Required Lenders have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “Non-Consenting Lender.”
Section 3.07 Survival. All of the Borrowers’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and any assignment of rights by or replacement of a Lender or L/C Issuer.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions
Conditions Precedent to Credit Extensions
Section 4.01 Conditions to Closing Date. The release of the Escrow Property to the Parent Borrower on the Closing Date is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:
(i) executed counterparts of the Guaranty from each of the parties listed on the signature pages hereto and thereto;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrowers in favor of each Lender that has requested a Note at least five (5) Business Days in advance of the Closing Date;
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(iii) each Collateral Document set forth on Schedule 1.01A required to be executed on the Closing Date as indicated on such schedule, duly executed by each Loan Party party thereto, together with (except as provided in such Collateral Documents);
(A) certificates, if any, representing the pledged equity referred to therein accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank and (if applicable) instruments evidencing the pledged debt referred to therein endorsed in blank;
(B) evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings that the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may deem reasonably necessary to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent; and
(C) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect and that the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent has been named as loss payee and additional insured under each United States insurance policy with respect to such insurance as to which the Administrative Agent shall have requested to be so named;
provided that if, notwithstanding the Parent Borrower’s use of commercially reasonable efforts without undue burden or expense to cause this clause (iii) to be satisfied on the Closing Date, the requirements hereof (other than (a) the execution of each Collateral Document set forth on Schedule 1.01A required to be executed on the Closing Date as indicated on such schedule by each Loan Party party thereto, (b) the pledge and perfection of security interests in the Equity Interests of (i) the Parent Borrower and (ii) each direct Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower that is organized in the United States or Canada (provided that such Equity Interests are not Excluded Equity and, in the case of THI and its subsidiaries, solely to the extent received by the Parent Borrower after use of commercially reasonable efforts) and (c) delivery of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and/or PPSA registration statements with respect to perfection of security interests in the assets of the Loan Parties that may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or PPSA, as applicable) are not satisfied as of the Closing Date, the satisfaction of such requirements shall not be a condition to the release of the Escrow Property to the Parent Borrower on the Closing Date (but shall be required to be satisfied as promptly as practicable after the Closing Date and in any event within the period specified therefor in Schedule 6.12);
(iv) such certificates, copies of Organization Documents of the Loan Parties, resolutions or other action and incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date;
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(v) an opinion from each of (A) Kirkland & Ellis LLP, New York counsel to the Loan Parties, (B) Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Canadian counsel to the Loan Parties, (C) Lawson Lundell LLP, British Columbia counsel to the Loan Parties and (D) Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Florida counsel to the Loan Parties;
(vi) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that (A) between December 29, 2013 and August 26, 2014, there has not been any fact, circumstance, change, effect, event or occurrence that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (B) since August 26, 2014, no fact, circumstance, change, effect, event or occurrence has occurred that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect and (C) the condition set forth in clause (f)(ii) below is satisfied;
(vii) a certificate attesting to the Solvency of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transaction, from the Parent Borrower’s chief financial officer or other officer with equivalent duties;
(viii) if any Credit Extension is being made on the Closing Date, a Committed Loan Notice or Letter of Credit Application, as applicable, relating to such Credit Extension; and
(ix) if available in the relevant jurisdiction, good standing certificates or certificates of status, as applicable and bring down telegrams or facsimiles, for each Loan Party.
(b) All fees and expenses required to be paid hereunder or pursuant to the Fee Letter, to the extent invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date shall have been paid in full in cash or will be paid on the Closing Date out of the proceeds of the Escrow Property released to the Parent Borrower on the Closing Date.
(c) Prior to or substantially simultaneously with the release of the Escrow Property to the Parent Borrower on the Closing Date, (i) the Equity Contribution shall have been consummated, (ii) the Acquisition shall be consummated in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, without giving effect to any amendments, consents or waivers of the Acquisition Agreement by the Parent Borrower that are materially adverse to the Lenders or the Lead Arrangers, without the prior consent of the Lead Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) (it being understood that any amendment to the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” is materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders and Lead Arrangers) and (iii) the Senior Secured Notes shall have been issued.
(d) The Lead Arrangers shall have received (i) the Audited Financial Statements, (ii) the Unaudited Financial Statements and (iii) the Pro Forma Financial Statements; provided that the filing of the required financial statements on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q with the SEC within the required time periods by BKW or THI will constitute receipt by the Lead Arrangers of the Audited Financial Statements and the Unaudited Financial Statements.
(e) Prior to or substantially simultaneously with the release of the Escrow Property to the Parent Borrower on the Closing Date, the Refinancing shall have been consummated.
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(f) (i) The Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date and (ii) the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date; provided that, in each case, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided, further, that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates.
(g) The Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers shall have received at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information about the Borrowers and the Guarantors as has been reasonably requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act.
(h) The Acknowledgement of the Notes Intercreditor Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto, substantially in the form of Exhibit K, and shall be in full force and effect.
For purposes of determining whether the Closing Date has occurred, each Lender that has executed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted, or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required hereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, unless such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent of any disagreement prior to the release of the Escrow Property to the Parent Borrower on the Closing Date.
Section 4.02 Conditions to Subsequent Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension after the Closing Date (other than (x) a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Term Benchmark Loans or (y) a Credit Extension of Incremental Term Loans in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition) is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrowers and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension; provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided, further, that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective dates.
(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.
(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
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Each Request for Credit Extension (other than (i) a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Term Benchmark Loans or (ii) a Credit Extension of Incremental Term Loans in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition) submitted by the Borrowers shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the applicable conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and, if applicable, (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
Section 4.03 Conditions to Escrow Closing Date. The obligations of the Term B-1 Lenders to make Term B-1 Loans on the Escrow Closing Date and the effectiveness of the Commitments hereunder are subject to the following conditions:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement from each of the parties listed on the signature pages hereto;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrowers in favor of each Lender that has requested a Note at least five (5) Business Days in advance of the Escrow Closing Date;
(iii) an executed copy of the Escrow Agreement countersigned by each of the parties listed on the signature page thereto together with evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that, substantially concurrently with the funding of the Term B-1 Loans on the Escrow Closing Date, all amounts required to be deposited in the Escrow Account on the Escrow Closing Date pursuant to the terms thereof shall have been so deposited;
(iv) such certificates, copies of Organization Documents of Holdings and the Borrowers, resolutions or other action and incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of Holdings and the Borrowers as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings or the Borrowers is a party or is to be a party on the Escrow Closing Date;
(v) an opinion from each of (A) Kirkland & Ellis LLP, New York counsel to the Loan Parties and (B) Lawson Lundell LLP, British Columbia counsel to the Loan Parties;
(vi) a Committed Loan Notice, as applicable, relating to the initial Credit Extension; and
(vii) if available in the relevant jurisdiction, good standing certificates or certificates of status, as applicable and bring down telegrams or facsimiles, for each of Holdings and the Borrowers; and
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(viii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower stating that the Specified Representations with respect to Holdings and the Borrowers are true and correct as of the Escrow Closing Date.
(b) The Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers shall have received at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Escrow Closing Date all documentation and other information about Holdings and the Borrowers as has been reasonably requested in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Escrow Closing Date by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the USA PATRIOT Act.
For purposes of determining whether the Escrow Closing Date has occurred, each Lender that has executed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted, or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required hereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, unless such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent of any disagreement prior to the initial Credit Extensions hereunder.
ARTICLE V
Representations and Warranties
Representations and Warranties
The Borrowers represent and warrant to the Agents and the Lenders that:
Section 5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each other Restricted Subsidiary (a) is a Person duly incorporated, organized or formed, and validly existing and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and, where applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws (including the USA PATRIOT Act, anti-money laundering laws and OFAC), orders, writs, injunctions and orders and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case referred to in clause (a) (other than with respect to Holdings and the Borrowers), (b)(i), (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transaction, (a) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action and (b) do not and will not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or require any payment to be made under (A) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (B) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject, (iii) result in the creation of any Lien (other than under the Loan Documents and Liens subject to the Notes Intercreditor Agreement or the New Senior Secured Notes Intercreditor
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Agreement) or (iv) violate any material Law; except (in the case of clauses (b)(ii) and (b)(iv)), to the extent that such conflict, breach, contravention, payment or violation could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transaction, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for (i) filings necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties, (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity.
Section 5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) (i) The Audited Financial Statements and Unaudited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of THI and BKW, as applicable, as of the dates thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise disclosed to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date.
(ii) The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2014 (including the notes thereto) (the “Pro Forma Balance Sheet”) and the unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the six month period ending on June 30, 2014 (together with the Pro Forma Balance Sheet, the “Pro Forma Financial Statements”), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to the Administrative Agent, have been prepared giving effect (as if such events had occurred on such date or at the beginning of such periods, as the case may be) to the Transaction. The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been prepared in good faith, based on assumptions believed by the Parent Borrower to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof, and present fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the estimated financial position of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 2014 and their estimated results of operations for the periods covered thereby, assuming that the events specified in the preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date or at the beginning of the periods covered thereby.
(iii) Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that Holdings and its Subsidiaries may be required to restate historical financial statements as the result of the implementation of changes in GAAP or IFRS, or the respective interpretation thereof, and that such restatements will not result in a Default under the Loan Documents.
Section 5.06 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.06, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, threatened in writing or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or against any of their properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.07 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good and valid title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes, Permitted Liens and any Liens and privileges arising mandatorily by Law and, in each case, except where the failure to have such title or other interest could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.08 Environmental Compliance. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, threatened claims, actions, suits, notices of violation, notices of potential responsibility or proceedings by or against Holdings or any Subsidiary alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of, or otherwise relating to, any Environmental Law;
(b) (i) there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary; and (ii) there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials by any of the Loan Parties or any other Subsidiary at, on, under or from any location in a manner which would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under Environmental Laws;
(c) neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries is undertaking, or has completed, either individually or together with other persons, any investigation or response action relating to any actual or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at any location, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law;
(d) all Hazardous Materials transported from any property currently or, to the knowledge of Holdings or its Subsidiaries, formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary for off-site disposal have been disposed of in compliance with all Environmental Laws;
(e) none of the Loan Parties nor any other Subsidiary has contractually assumed any liability or obligation under or relating to any Environmental Law; and
(f) the Loan Parties and each other Subsidiary and their respective businesses, operations and properties are and have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws.
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Section 5.09 Taxes. Holdings and each Restricted Subsidiary have timely filed all federal, provincial, state, municipal, foreign and other Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have timely paid all federal, provincial, state, municipal, foreign and other Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP and, except for failures to file or pay as could not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no Tax audits, deficiencies, assessments or other claims with respect to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.10 Compliance with ERISA.
(a) Except as could not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state Laws and applicable foreign laws, respectively.
(b) (i) No ERISA Event or similar event with respect to a Foreign Plan has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 et seq. or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (iii) 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, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.10, as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.11 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, neither the Parent Borrower nor any other Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.11, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and, in the case of Equity Interests representing corporate interests, nonassessable and, on the Closing Date, all Equity Interests owned directly or indirectly by Initial Holdings or any other Loan Party are owned free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Collateral Documents, (ii) those Liens permitted under Sections 7.01(b), (o), (w) (solely with respect to modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions of Liens permitted by Sections 7.01(b) and (o)) and (ff) and (iii) any nonconsensual Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5.11 (a) sets forth the name and jurisdiction of organization or incorporation of each Subsidiary, (b) sets forth the ownership interest of Initial Holdings, the Parent Borrower and any of their Subsidiaries in each of their Subsidiaries, including the percentage of such ownership and (c) identifies each Person the Equity Interests of which are required to be pledged on the Closing Date pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement.
Section 5.12 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) No Loan Party is engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and no proceeds of any Borrowings or drawings under any Letter of Credit will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U or Regulation X of the FRB.
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(b) None of the Parent Borrower, any Person Controlling the Parent Borrower or any Guarantor is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 5.13 Disclosure. No report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to any Agent, any Lead Arranger or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) when taken as a whole contains when furnished any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material.
Section 5.14 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. Each of the Loan Parties and the other Restricted Subsidiaries own, license or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, technology, software, know-how database rights, design rights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are used in or reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, without violation of the rights of any Person, except to the extent such failures or violations, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any such IP Rights, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, threatened against any Loan Party or Subsidiary, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.15 Solvency. On the Closing Date after giving effect to the Transaction, the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.
Section 5.16 Collateral Documents. The Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties legal, valid and enforceable Liens on and security interests in, the Collateral described therein and to the extent intended to be created thereby, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity, and (i) when all appropriate filings or recordings are made in the appropriate offices as may be required under applicable Laws (which filings or recordings shall be made to the extent required by any Collateral Document) and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent required by any Collateral Document), the Liens created by such Collateral Documents will constitute so far as possible under relevant Law fully perfected first-priority Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral, in each case subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens.
Section 5.17 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Term B-1 Loans and the Revolving Credit Loans shall be used in a manner consistent with the uses set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement. The proceeds of the Term B-5 Loans shall be used (i) for the repayment of Term B-4 Loans that are not Converted Term B-4 Loans, and (ii) to finance the transactions, and pay the fees and expenses contemplated by Amendment No. 9. The proceeds of the Term A Loans will be used to (i) refinance in full the 2021 Term A Loans, (ii) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by Amendment No. 7 and (iii) for general corporate purposes.
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Section 5.18 Anti-Terrorism Laws; OFAC and Anti-Corruption Laws.
(a) Each of Holdings and its Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with the Sanctions Laws and Regulations. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, or use of proceeds, will violate or result in the violation of any Sanctions Laws and Regulations applicable to any party hereto.
(b) None of (I) the Borrowers or any other Loan Party and (II) the Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, any director, manager, officer, agent or employee of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, is a Person (under the Control of a Person) on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” or the target of the limitations or prohibitions under any other Sanctions Laws and Regulations.
(c) No part of the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit will be used for any improper payments, directly or, to the knowledge of the Parent Borrower, indirectly, to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, or any other party (if applicable) in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in material violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended and any similar laws, rules or regulations issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any of the Borrowers.
Section 5.19 Senior Indebtedness. The Obligations constitute “Senior Indebtedness” (or similar term), “Guarantor Senior Debt” (or similar term) and “Designated Senior Indebtedness” (or similar term) of the Borrowers under their Subordinated Debt Documents (if any).
ARTICLE VI
Affirmative Covenants
From and after the Closing Date and for so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, Holdings shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Section 6.01, Section 6.02 and Section 6.03) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:
Section 6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of Holdings, a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception (other than with respect to, or resulting from, the regularly scheduled maturity of the Revolving Credit Commitments) or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit;
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(b) as soon as available, but in any event, within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of Holdings, a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related (i) consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended and (ii) consolidated statements of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower or Holdings as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes; and
(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of consolidated financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and (b) above the related consolidating financial statements reflecting the adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such consolidated financial statements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.01 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of Holdings and its Subsidiaries by furnishing (A) the applicable consolidated financial statements of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings that, directly or indirectly, holds Equity Interests of Holdings, (B) Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof, as applicable) Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC or (C) following an election by Holdings pursuant to the definition of “GAAP,” the applicable financial statements determined in accordance with IFRS; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), (i) to the extent such information relates to a parent of Holdings, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to Holdings (or such parent), on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 6.01(a), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Section 6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:
(a) no later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower or Holdings;
(b) promptly after the same are publicly available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which Holdings files with the SEC or with any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor (other than amendments to any registration statement (to the extent such registration statement, in the form it became effective, is delivered), exhibits to any registration statement and, if applicable, any registration statement on Form S-8) and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;
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(c) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material requests or material notices received by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries (other than in the ordinary course of business) that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) together with the delivery of the financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), (i) a report setting forth the information required by Section 3.03 of the U.S. Security Agreement or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the Closing Date or the date of the last Compliance Certificate, (ii) a description of each event, condition or circumstance during the last fiscal quarter covered by such Compliance Certificate requiring a prepayment under Section 2.05(b), (iii) a list of Subsidiaries that identifies each Subsidiary as a Material Subsidiary or an Immaterial Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or a confirmation that there is no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such list and (iv) such other information required by the Compliance Certificate;
(e) no later than ninety (90) days (or, with respect to the first fiscal year ended after the Closing Date, one hundred twenty (120) days) following the first day of each fiscal year of Holdings (commencing the first day of the first fiscal year of the Parent Borrower ended after the Closing Date), an annual budget (on a quarterly basis) for such fiscal year in form customarily prepared by Holdings; and
(f) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and (b), Section 6.02(a), or Section 6.02(c) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which Holdings posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Parent Borrower’s or Holdings’ website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on Holdings’ behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, Holdings shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent and (ii) Holdings shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Parent Borrower and Holdings hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Parent Borrower or Holdings hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to Holdings or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-
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related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Parent Borrower and Holdings hereby agree that they will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Parent Borrower and Holdings shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to Holdings or its Affiliates or any of their respective securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.08); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”
Section 6.03 Notices. Promptly after a Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:
(a) of the occurrence of any Default, which notice shall specify the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof and what action the Parent Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto;
(b) any litigation or governmental proceeding (including, without limitation, pursuant to any Environmental Laws) pending against Holdings or any of the Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely and, if so determined, to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event or similar event with respect to a Foreign Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.04 Maintenance of Existence. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation and (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (a) (other than with respect to Holdings and the Parent Borrower) and (b), (i) to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.05.
Section 6.05 Maintenance of Properties. Except if the failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted, and (b) make all necessary renewals, replacements, modifications, improvements, upgrades, extensions and additions thereof or thereto in accordance with prudent industry practice.
Section 6.06 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or
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damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons. If any portion of any Mortgaged Property is at any time located in an area identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any successor agency) as a special flood hazard area with respect to which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (as now or hereafter in effect or successor act thereto), then, to the extent required by applicable Laws, Holdings shall, or shall cause each Loan Party to, (i) maintain, or cause to be maintained, with a financially sound and reputable insurer, flood insurance in an amount sufficient to comply with all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the Flood Insurance Laws and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent evidence of such compliance in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. Any such insurance (excluding business interruption insurance) maintained in the United States or Canada shall name the Collateral Agent as additional insured or loss payee, as applicable.
Section 6.07 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions, decrees and judgments applicable to it or to its business or property (including without limitation Environmental Laws, ERISA and Sanctions Laws and Regulations), except if the failure to comply therewith could not, individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.08 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of Holdings or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.
Section 6.09 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, managers, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the reasonable expense of the Parent Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Parent Borrower; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.09 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two (2) times during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default and only one (1) such time shall be at the Parent Borrower’s expense; provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Parent Borrower at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Parent Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with Holdings’ independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.09, none of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to disclose or permit the inspection or discussion of, any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or any binding agreement or (iii) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product.
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Section 6.10 Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security. At the Parent Borrower’s expense, take all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement continues to be satisfied, including:
(a) upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (in each case, other than an Excluded Subsidiary) by any Loan Party, the designation in accordance with Section 6.13 of any existing direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary:
(i) within ninety (90) days after such formation, acquisition, designation or occurrence or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion:
(A) cause each such Restricted Subsidiary to furnish to the Administrative Agent a description of the Material Real Properties owned by such Restricted Subsidiary in detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(B) cause each such Restricted Subsidiary to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as appropriate) Mortgages, pledges, guarantees, assignments, Security Agreement Supplements and other security agreements and documents or joinders or supplements thereto (including without limitation, with respect to Mortgages, the documents listed in paragraph (f) of the definition of Collateral and Guarantee Requirement), as reasonably requested by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (consistent with the Mortgages, Security Agreement and other Collateral Documents in effect on the Closing Date), in each case granting Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement;
(C) cause each such Restricted Subsidiary to deliver any and all certificates representing Equity Interests (to the extent certificated) that are required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank and (if applicable) instruments evidencing the Indebtedness held by such Restricted Subsidiary and required to be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents, indorsed in blank to the Collateral Agent; and
(D) take and cause such Restricted Subsidiary and each direct or indirect parent of such Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to take whatever action (including the recording of Mortgages, the filing of financing statements and delivery of stock and membership interest certificates) may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent to vest in the Collateral Agent (or in any representative of the Collateral Agent designated by it) valid and perfected first priority Liens required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws
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and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law); and
(ii) as promptly as practicable after the request therefor by the Collateral Agent and to the extent in a Loan Party’s possession, deliver to the Collateral Agent with respect to each Material Real Property, any existing title reports, title insurance policies and surveys or environmental assessment reports; and
(b) after the Closing Date, promptly after the acquisition of any Material Real Property by any Loan Party, if such Material Real Property shall not already be subject to a perfected first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) under the Collateral Documents pursuant to the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and is required to be, the Parent Borrower shall give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and promptly thereafter shall cause such real property to be subjected to a Lien to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and will take, or cause the relevant Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to grant and perfect or record such Lien, including, as applicable, the actions referred to in paragraph (f) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” and shall, within forty-five (45) days after the request therefor by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent signed copies of opinions, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties regarding the due execution and delivery and enforceability of each such Mortgage, the corporate formation, existence and good standing of the applicable mortgagor, and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and each such opinion shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
(c) at the sole option of the Parent Borrower, any Person who is a direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower may, subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required if organized or existing under the laws of United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia or Canada, or any province thereof), become a Guarantor (each such Persons, a “Parent Guarantor”, and collectively, “Parent Guarantors”), by delivering to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as appropriate) Mortgages, pledges, guaranty supplements, assignments, Security Agreement Supplements and other security agreements and documents or joinders or supplements thereto of the type and nature as would be required under Section 6.10(a) for the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (in each case, other than an Excluded Subsidiary) by any Loan Party, the designation in accordance with Section 6.13 of any existing direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or any Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary.
Section 6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, in a manner consistent with the uses set forth in the Preliminary Statements to this Agreement or set forth in Section 5.17.
Section 6.12 Further Assurances and Post-Closing Covenants.
(a) Promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment,
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filing or recordation of any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents;
(b) Within 90 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Parent Borrower shall cause each Material Real Property to be subjected to a first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and will take, or cause the relevant Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to grant and perfect or record such Lien, including, as applicable, the actions referred to in paragraph (f) of the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent signed copies of opinions, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, of local counsel for the Loan Parties in each jurisdiction where a Mortgaged Property is located, regarding the due execution and delivery and enforceability of each such Mortgage, the corporate formation, existence and good standing of the applicable mortgagor, and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, and each such local counsel opinion shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; and
(c) Within the time periods specified on Schedule 6.12 hereto (as each may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), complete such undertakings as are set forth on Schedule 6.12 hereto.
Section 6.13 Designation of Subsidiaries.
(a) Subject to Section 6.13(b) below, the Parent Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Subsidiary Borrower) as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary. The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by Holdings therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value of Holdings’ investment therein. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the incurrence at the time of designation of any Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time.
(b) The Parent Borrower may not (x) designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or (y) designate an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case unless:
(i) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom; and
(ii) in the case of clause (x) only, other than in connection with the designation of a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing, (A) the Subsidiary to be so designated does not (directly, or indirectly through its Subsidiaries) own any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (B) neither Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall at any time be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness that provides that the holder thereof may (with the passage of time or notice or both) declare a default thereon or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity upon the occurrence of a default with respect to
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any Indebtedness, Lien or other obligation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any right to take enforcement action against such Unrestricted Subsidiary).
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything contrary in this Agreement, (i) (a) no Loan Party shall sell, contribute, transfer, assign or dispose of, or grant an exclusive license of, Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) and (b) no Restricted Subsidiary shall sell, contribute, transfer, assign or dispose of, or grant an exclusive license of, Material Intellectual Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) and (ii) no Subsidiary of Holdings may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) if such Subsidiary owns, or holds an exclusive license in, any Material Intellectual Property, in each case, after giving effect to such designation.
Section 6.14 Payment of Taxes. Holdings will pay and discharge, and will cause each of the Restricted Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or upon any properties belonging to it, in each case on a timely basis, and all lawful claims which, if unpaid, may reasonably be expected to become a lien or charge upon any properties of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Agreement; provided that neither Holdings nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such Tax or claim which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if it has maintained adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or which would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.15 Nature of Business. Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries will engage only in material lines of business substantially similar to those lines of business conducted by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business reasonably related, complementary or ancillary thereto.
ARTICLE VII
Negative Covenants
Negative Covenants
In the case of Section 7.11, from the Escrow Closing Date until the earlier of the Closing Date and the date on which all Loans have been repaid and all Commitments have been terminated and, in the case of Section 7.01 through Section 7.10, from the Closing Date and so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or as to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer have been made), Holdings shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:
Section 7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document (and equal and ratable Liens securing the Ratably Secured Existing Notes);
(b) Liens existing on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date;
(c) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges (i) which are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by
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appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP;
(d) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business (i) which secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or if more than thirty (30) days overdue, are unfiled (or if filed have been discharged or stayed) and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP;
(e) (i) pledges, deposits or Liens arising as a matter of law in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and (ii) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(f) Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants, conditions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and minor title defects affecting real property which, in the aggregate, do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and any exception on the Mortgage Policies issued in connection with the Mortgaged Property;
(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);
(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(f); provided that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within two hundred and seventy (270) days after the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, replacements thereof and additions and accessions to such property and the proceeds and the products thereof and customary security deposits, and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for additions and accessions to such assets, replacements and products thereof and customary security deposits) other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Leases; provided that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender;
(j) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses and Liens on the property covered thereby, in each case, granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i)
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interfere in any material respect with the business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, taken as a whole, or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;
(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 in the ordinary course of business;
(l) Liens (i) of a collection bank (including those arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code) on the items in the course of collection and (ii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;
(m) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02(j) or (n) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;
(n) Liens in favor of Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e) (provided that, solely with respect to Indebtedness required to be Subordinated Debt under Section 7.03(e), such Lien shall be subordinated to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations to the same extent);
(o) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.13), in each case after the Closing Date; provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds or products thereof and other than after-acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition), and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03(f) or (v);
(p) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under leases or subleases entered into by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(q) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(r) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other financial institutions not given in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase
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orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
(s) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings;
(t) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;
(u) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(v) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit issued for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods;
(w) the modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Lien permitted by clauses (b), (i) and (o) of this Section 7.01; provided that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, and (B) proceeds and products thereof; and (ii) the renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03;
(x) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;
(y) Liens on property of a Non-Loan Party securing Indebtedness or other obligations of such Non-Loan Party;
(z) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(aa) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(t); provided that such Liens may be either a Lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations or a Lien ranking junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations (but may not be secured by any assets that are not Collateral) and, in any such case, the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent on their behalf) shall have (i) become party to the Notes Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof or (ii) entered into a Customary Intercreditor Agreement with the Administrative Agent;
(bb) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(m);
(cc) other Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000,000,000 and (y) 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period;
(dd) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(w) and (y); provided that such Liens may be either a Lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien
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securing the Obligations or a Lien ranking junior to the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations (but may not be secured by any assets that are not Collateral) and, in any such case, the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent on their behalf) shall have (i) become party to the Notes Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof or (ii) entered into a Customary Intercreditor Agreement with the Administrative Agent;
(ee) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(v); provided that, to the extent such Liens are on the Collateral, the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent on their behalf) shall have (i) become party to the Notes Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof or (ii) entered into a Customary Intercreditor Agreement with the Administrative Agent;
(ff) Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(b); provided that, such Liens shall be junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations on the terms set forth in the Notes Intercreditor Agreement or any replacement Customary Intercreditor Agreement that provides that the Liens securing such Indebtedness rank junior to the Liens securing the Obligations and is entered into in connection with a Permitted Refinancing of such Indebtedness;
(gg) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, other Liens and privileges arising mandatorily by Law;
(hh) Liens arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivables Financing;
(ii) Liens on the Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03(r); provided that such Liens shall rank junior to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations and the beneficiaries thereof (or an agent on their behalf) shall have (i) become party to the Notes Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof or (ii) entered into a Customary Intercreditor Agreement that provides that the Liens securing such Indebtedness rank junior to the Liens securing the Obligations with the Administrative Agent; and
(jj) Liens on the Equity Interests of JV Entities securing financing arrangements for the benefit of the applicable JV Entity that are not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement.
Section 7.02 Investments. Make any Investments, except:
(a) Investments by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in assets that were Cash Equivalents when such Investment was made;
(b) loans or advances to officers, directors, managers, partners and employees of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), any Intermediate Holding Company, any Parent Guarantor, the Restricted Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes, (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof (provided that the proceeds of any such loans and advances shall be contributed to Holdings in cash as common equity) or any Intermediate Holding Company, Parent Guarantor or the Parent Borrower) and (iii) for purposes not described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed $35,000,000;
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(c) asset purchases (including purchases of inventory, supplies and materials) and the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(d) Investments (i) by any Loan Party in any other Loan Party (other than Holdings), (ii) by any Non-Loan Party in any Loan Party (other than Holdings), (iii) by any Non-Loan Party in any other Non-Loan Party and (iv) by any Loan Party in any Non-Loan Party;
(e) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and other credits to suppliers in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Investments consisting of Liens, Indebtedness, fundamental changes, Dispositions and Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.01, Section 7.03, Section 7.04, Section 7.05 and Section 7.06, respectively;
(g) Investments consisting of any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension of any Investment existing on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date; provided that the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02(g) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date except pursuant to the terms of such Investment as of the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date or as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;
(h) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03(g);
(i) promissory notes and other noncash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05;
(j) the purchase or other acquisition of property and assets or businesses of any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of such Person, or Equity Interests in a Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will be a Restricted Subsidiary (or one or more Securitization Subsidiaries and other related assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing) of Holdings (including as a result of a merger or consolidation) (each, a “Permitted Acquisition”); provided that (i) except in the case of a Limited Condition Acquisition (in which case, compliance with this clause (i) shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09(a)), immediately before and immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) after giving effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, Holdings shall be in compliance with the covenant in Section 6.15 and (iii) to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, (A) the property, assets and businesses acquired in such purchase or other acquisition shall become Collateral and (B) any such newly created or acquired Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary or any Securitization Subsidiaries) shall become Guarantors, in each case in accordance with Section 6.10;
(k) the Transaction;
(l) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;
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(m) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers, customers and Franchisees or in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers, suppliers and Franchisees arising in the ordinary course of business or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;
(n) Investments as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related commitments for future Investments, in an amount not exceeding the Available Amount, provided that at the time of any such Investment, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;
(o) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;
(p) loans and advances to any direct or indirect parent of Holdings in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other such loans or advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof), Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to such direct or indirect parent in accordance with Section 7.06; provided that any such loan or advance shall reduce the amount of such applicable Restricted Payment thereafter permitted under Section 7.06 by a corresponding amount (if such applicable provision of Section 7.06 contains a maximum amount);
(q) Investments held by a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date or of a corporation or company merged into the Parent Borrower, any Parent Guarantor, or Holdings or merged or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.04 after the Closing Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation;
(r) Guarantee Obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of leases (other than Capitalized Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(s) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Qualified Equity Interests (other than any Cure Amount);
(t) other Investments in an aggregate amount, as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related commitments for future Investments, not exceeding (i) the greater of (x) $1,250,000,000 and (y) 50.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period, plus (ii) an amount equal to any returns of capital or sale proceeds actually received in cash in respect of any such Investments (which amount shall not exceed the amount of such Investment valued at cost at the time such Investment was made); provided that any such amounts under this clause (ii) shall not increase the Available Amount, it being understood that that any returns of capital or sale proceeds actually received in cash in respect of any such Investments in excess of the amount of such Investment valued at cost at the time such Investment was made shall increase the Available Amount (to the extent such excess amount of returns or proceeds would otherwise increase the Available Amount pursuant to the definition thereof);
(u) Investments in (x) JV Entities and Unrestricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount, as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related
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commitments for future Investments, not exceeding (i) the greater of (x) $625,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period, plus (ii) an amount equal to any returns of capital or sale proceeds actually received in cash in respect of any such Investments (which amount shall not exceed the amount of such Investment valued at cost at the time such Investment was made) (y) another Person if such Person is engaged, directly or through its Subsidiaries, in any Similar Business in an aggregate amount, as valued at cost at the time each such Investment is made and including all related commitments for future Investments, not exceeding (i) the greater of (x) $875,000,000 and (y) 35.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period, plus (ii) an amount equal to any returns of capital or sale proceeds actually received in cash in respect of any such Investments (which amount shall not exceed the amount of such Investment valued at cost at the time such Investment was made); provided that any such amounts under clauses (u)(x)(ii) and (u)(y)(ii) shall not increase the Available Amount, it being understood that that any returns of capital or sale proceeds actually received in cash in respect of any such Investments in excess of the amount of such Investment valued at cost at the time such Investment was made shall increase the Available Amount (to the extent such excess amount of returns or proceeds would otherwise increase the Available Amount pursuant to the definition thereof);
(v) (i) Investments arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivable Financing and (ii) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases or acquisitions of Securitization Assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivable Financing;
(w) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of Holdings;
(x) Investments by an Unrestricted Subsidiary entered into prior to the day such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”; provided that such Investments were not incurred in contemplation of such redesignation;
(y) Investments consisting of Guarantee Obligations with respect to, or the assumption of Indebtedness (to the extent permitted by Section 7.03) of, or loans made to, or the acquisition of loans made to or Equity Interests in, Franchisees, suppliers, distributors or licensees of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding;
(z) other Investments; provided that, at the time of such Investment, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the Total Leverage Ratio of Holdings as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 5.00:1.00;
(aa) Investments existing on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof; provided that the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02(aa) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date except pursuant to the terms of such Investment as of the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date or as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02; and
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(bb) transactions entered into in order to consummate a Permitted Tax Restructuring.
Section 7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness of Holdings and any of its Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents;
(b)9 Indebtedness of the Borrowers in respect of the Senior Secured Notes (and Guarantees thereof by the Guarantors) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,250,000,000 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(c) (i) Indebtedness of Holdings and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Ratably Secured Existing Notes, (ii) Surviving Indebtedness and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of any of the foregoing;
(d) Guarantee Obligations of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder (except that an Immaterial Subsidiary may not, by virtue of this Section 7.03(d), guarantee Indebtedness that such Immaterial Subsidiary could not otherwise incur under this Section 7.03); provided that, if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to the Obligations, such Guarantee Obligation shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the subordination of such Indebtedness;
(e) Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary to the extent constituting an Investment permitted by Section 7.02; provided that all such Indebtedness of any Loan Party owed to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall be subject to the subordination terms set forth in Section 3.01 of the Guaranty;
(f) (i) Attributable Indebtedness and other Indebtedness (including Capitalized Leases) financing the acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of fixed or capital assets (provided that such Indebtedness is incurred concurrently with or within two hundred seventy (270) days after the applicable acquisition, construction, repair, replacement or improvement), (ii) Attributable Indebtedness arising out of Permitted Sale Leasebacks in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period and (iii) any Permitted Refinancing of any Indebtedness set forth in the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii); provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness (including without limitation Attributable Indebtedness, but excluding Attributable Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (ii)) under this Section 7.03(f) does not exceed the greater of (x) $750,000,000 and (y) 30.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period;
(g) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts (i) entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which Holdings or any Subsidiary has actual or anticipated exposure (other than those in respect of shares of capital stock or other equity ownership interests of Holdings or any Subsidiary), (ii) entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of Holdings or any Subsidiary and (iii) entered into to hedge commodities, currencies, general economic conditions, raw materials prices, revenue streams or business performance;
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(h) Guarantee Obligations with respect to, or the assumption of, Indebtedness of Franchisees, suppliers, distributors or licensees of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 7.02(y);
(i) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(j) Indebtedness to current or former officers, directors, partners, managers, consultants and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) permitted by Section 7.06 in an aggregate amount not to exceed $20,000,000 at any one time outstanding;
(k) Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition, in each case to the extent constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earn-outs) or other similar adjustments;
(l) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with the Transaction and Permitted Acquisitions or any other Investment expressly permitted hereunder;
(m) Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case incurred in the ordinary course;
(n) Indebtedness consisting of (a) the financing of insurance premiums or (b) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;
(o) Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, including in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;
(p) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments related thereto, in each case in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(q) Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit in a principal amount not to exceed the face amount of such Letter of Credit;
(r) (i) other unsecured or junior lien Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate amount not to exceed (A) $1,000,000,000 at the time of any
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incurrence pursuant to this clause (A) (when aggregated with the amount of Permitted Refinancings in respect of Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (A) that are consummated in reliance on Section 7.03(r)(ii) below) plus (B) unlimited additional unsecured or junior lien Indebtedness, so long as either (x) the Total Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) as of the end of the most recent Test Period is not greater than 7.00:1.00 or (y) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) for the end of the most recent Test Period is not less than 2.00:1.00; provided further that, in the case of any Indebtedness incurred under this clause (r), (1) unless (A) such Indebtedness is an increase in the amount of the New Senior Secured Notes or (B) the amount of such Indebtedness at the time of incurrence thereof does not exceed the Earlier Maturing Basket Amount at such time, such Indebtedness shall not mature prior to the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date of the Term B-5 Loans, the Term A Loans or the Revolving Credit Commitments or have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity less than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term B-5 Loans, the Term A Loans or the Revolving Credit Commitments plus 91 days, (2) such Indebtedness shall not have mandatory prepayment, redemption or offer to purchase events more onerous than those applicable to the Term B-5 Loans, the Term A Loans or the Revolving Credit Commitments, (3) the other terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing and optional prepayment or redemption terms) reflect market terms and conditions at the time of incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness and (4) the maximum aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred pursuant to this clause (r) and Section 7.03(v) by Non-Loan Parties shall not exceed the greater of (x) $400,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period at any one time outstanding and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(s) Indebtedness incurred by a Non-Loan Party, and guarantees thereof by Non-Loan Party, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed (A) the greater of (x) $1,000,000,000 and (y) 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period at any one time outstanding plus (B) additional Indebtedness incurred from time to time pursuant to asset based revolving facilities provided by commercial banks or similar financial institutions; provided that (1) such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on the current assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (and not on the Collateral), (2) Loan Parties shall not Guarantee such Indebtedness unless such Guarantee would otherwise be permitted under Section 7.02, and (3) borrowings under such asset based revolving facilities shall be subject to a borrowing base or similar advance rate criteria;
(t) (i) Indebtedness (in the form of senior secured, senior unsecured, senior subordinated, or subordinated notes or loans) incurred by the Borrowers to the extent that the Borrowers shall have been permitted to incur such Indebtedness pursuant to, and such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be incurred in reliance on, Section 2.14; provided that (A) unless (1) such Indebtedness is an increase in the amount of the New Senior Secured Notes or (2) the amount of such Indebtedness at the time of incurrence thereof does not exceed the Earlier Maturing Basket Amount at such time, such Indebtedness shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date applicable to the Term B-5 Loans, the Term A Loans or the Revolving Credit Commitments, (B) unless (1) such Indebtedness is an increase in the amount of the New Senior Secured Notes or (2) the amount of such Indebtedness at the time of incurrence thereof does not exceed the Earlier Maturing Basket Amount at such time, as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be shorter than that of the Term B-5 Loans, the Term A Loans or the Revolving Credit Commitments, (C) no Restricted Subsidiary is a borrower or guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness unless such
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Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor which shall have previously or substantially concurrently guaranteed the Obligations, (D) the other terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing and optional prepayment or redemption terms) reflect market terms on the date of issuance, (E) if such Indebtedness is in the form of a term loan facility of the Loan Parties and is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations, the terms set forth in the proviso to Section 2.14(b)(ii) shall have been complied with as if such Indebtedness was considered an Incremental Term Loan and (F) the Parent Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower, together with all relevant financial information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, including reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) (such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (t) being referred to as “Permitted Alternative Incremental Facilities Debt”) and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(u) additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000,000,000 and (y) 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period at any one time outstanding;
(v) Indebtedness incurred to finance or assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, provided that (i) after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Permitted Acquisition and such Indebtedness, the Total Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) as of the most recent Test Period is either (x) not greater than 7.00:1.00 or (y) not greater than the Total Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness, (ii) if such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations, (A) after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Permitted Acquisition and such secured Indebtedness, the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period is either (x) not greater than 4.50:1.00 or (y) not greater than the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness and (B) if such Indebtedness is a term loan facility of the Loan Parties, Holdings shall have been permitted to incur such Indebtedness pursuant to, and such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be incurred in reliance on, Section 2.14, and the terms set forth in the proviso to Section 2.14(b)(ii) shall have been complied with as if such Indebtedness was considered an Incremental Term Loan (such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (B) being referred to as “Permitted Credit Facilities Acquisition Debt”) and (iii) the maximum aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred pursuant to this clause (v) and Section 7.03(r) by Non-Loan Parties shall not exceed the greater of (x) $400,000,000 and (y) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period at any one time outstanding;
(w) (i) Indebtedness (in the form of senior secured, senior unsecured, senior subordinated, or subordinated notes or loans) incurred by a Loan Party to the extent that 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom are, immediately after the receipt thereof, applied solely to the prepayment of Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(iii); provided that (A) unless the amount of such Indebtedness at the time of incurrence thereof does not exceed the Earlier Maturing Basket Amount at such time (in which case, such Indebtedness may have an earlier final maturity so long as such maturity date is not prior to the Maturity Date of the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect), such Indebtedness shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date with respect to the relevant Term Loans being refinanced, (B) unless the amount of such
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Indebtedness at the time of incurrence thereof does not exceed the Earlier Maturing Basket Amount at such time (in which case, such Indebtedness may have a shorter Weighted Average Life to Maturity so long as such Weighted Average Life to Maturity is not less than three (3) years), as of the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness shall not be shorter than that of then-remaining Term Loans being refinanced, (C) no Restricted Subsidiary is a borrower or guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness unless such Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor which shall have previously or substantially concurrently guaranteed the Obligations, (D) the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing and optional prepayment or redemption terms or covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the maturity date of the Term Loans being refinanced) reflect market terms and conditions on the date of issuance and such Indebtedness shall not participate in mandatory prepayments on a greater than pro rata basis with the Term Loans and (E) the Parent Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower, together with all relevant financial information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, including reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) and (ii) any Permitted Refinancing thereof;
(x) Indebtedness with respect to any Qualified Securitization Financing or any Permitted Receivables Financing;
(y) Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Debt Exchange Notes incurred pursuant to a Permitted Debt Exchange in accordance with Section 2.17 and any Permitted Refinancing thereof; and
(z) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (y) above.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (z) above, the Parent Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify and reclassify or later divide, classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception in clause (a) of this Section 7.03 and the Senior Secured Notes will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on the exception set forth in clause (c) of this Section 7.03.
The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 7.03.
Section 7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, amalgamate, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that:
(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or amalgamate with (i) Holdings or any other Parent Guarantor, (ii) the Parent Borrower (including a merger or amalgamation the purpose
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of which is to reorganize the Parent Borrower in a new province within Canada or the conversion from one form or legal entity into another) (provided that the resulting entity shall succeed as a matter of law to all of the Obligations of Holdings, a Parent Guarantor or the Parent Borrower, as applicable), (iii) any one or more other Restricted Subsidiaries (provided that when any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party is merging or amalgamating with another Restricted Subsidiary, a Loan Party shall be a continuing or surviving Person, as applicable, or the resulting entity shall succeed as a matter of law to all of the Obligations of such Loan Party; provided, further, that the Subsidiary Borrower shall not be merged or amalgamated with any Person unless the surviving Person is the Subsidiary Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) that is a Loan Party that becomes the Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to customary documentation) and (iv) in order to consummate a Permitted Tax Restructuring;
(b) (i) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, (ii) (A) any Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate, dissolve or wind up, or (B) any Restricted Subsidiary may change its legal form, in each case, if the Parent Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders and (iii) either Borrower may change its legal form if it determines in good faith that such action is in the best interests of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, and the Administrative Agent reasonably determines it is not disadvantageous to the Lenders;
(c) any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Subsidiary Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Loan Party, then either (i) the transferee must be a Loan Party or (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in accordance with Section 7.02 and Section 7.03, respectively;
(d) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, Holdings or any Borrower may merge or amalgamate with any other Person; provided that either (a) Holdings or such Borrower, as applicable, shall be a continuing or surviving corporation or (b) (A) the Person (the “Successor Person”) formed by or surviving such merger or amalgamation (x) is organized or existing under the laws of United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia (or, except in the case of the Subsidiary Borrower, Canada, or any province thereof) and (y) expressly assumes all obligations of Holdings or such Borrower, as applicable, under the Loan Documents pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (B) the Parent Borrower furnishes all information as may be reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to comply with applicable “know your customer” requirements established by U.S. and Canadian regulatory authorities);
(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or amalgamate with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Restricted Subsidiary, which together with each of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.10; provided, that the Subsidiary Borrower shall not be merged or amalgamated with any Person unless the surviving Person is the Subsidiary Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) that is a Loan Party that becomes the Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to customary documentation;
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(f) the Acquisition may be consummated;
(g) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, a merger, amalgamation, dissolution, winding up, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.05, may be effected; and
(h) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, Holdings and/or any Borrower may designate Holdings (in the case of a Borrower) and/or any Parent Company that is or becomes a Parent Guarantor as a “Borrower”, “Parent Borrower” or “Holdings” for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and assign its rights and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents as a “Borrower”, “Parent Borrower” or “Holdings” to Holdings or such Parent Company; provided that (A) Holdings or such Parent Company (the “Successor Holdings”, “Successor Borrower” or “Successor Parent Borrower”, as applicable) expressly assumes all obligations and covenants hereunder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the covenant to guarantee obligations and give security pursuant to Section 6.10 hereof) of Holdings, Borrower or Parent Borrower, as applicable, under the Loan Documents pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (B) the Successor Holdings, Successor Borrower or Successor Parent Borrower, as applicable, (x) is organized or existing under the laws of United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia (or, except in the case of the Subsidiary Borrower, Canada, or any province thereof) and (y) furnishes all information as may be reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to comply with applicable “know your customer” requirements established by U.S. and Canadian regulatory authorities.
Section 7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition, except:
(a) Dispositions of obsolete, worn out or surplus property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions of property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(b) Dispositions of inventory and immaterial assets in the ordinary course of business (including allowing any registrations or any applications for registration of any immaterial IP Rights to lapse or go abandoned in the ordinary course of business);
(c) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property that is promptly purchased or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property (which replacement property is actually promptly purchased);
(d) Dispositions of property to Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Loan Party (i) the transferee thereof must be a Loan Party, (ii) to the extent such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 7.02, (iii) such Disposition shall consist of the transfer of Equity Interests in or Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary to any other Foreign Subsidiary, or (iv) such Disposition is of property not related to a Covered Jurisdiction or of any property or assets listed on Schedule 7.05(d);
(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.02, Section 7.04 and Section 7.06 and Liens permitted by Section 7.01;
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(f) Dispositions in the ordinary course of business of Cash Equivalents;
(g) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses, in each case in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(h) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events;
(i) Dispositions of Investments in JV Entities or non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that no Dispositions may be made pursuant to this Section 7.05(i) to the extent such JV Entity or non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary was, prior to a previous Disposition of Equity Interests in such JV Entity or non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary made pursuant to another provision of this Section 7.05, a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, and such Dispositions pursuant to such other provision of this Section 7.05 and this Section 7.05(i) were part of a single Disposition or series of related Disposition, other than to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the parties to such JV Entity or shareholders of such non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary set forth in the shareholders agreements, joint venture agreements, organizational documents or similar binding agreements relating to such JV Entity or non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary (any such arrangement, a “Buy/Sell Arrangement”) (provided that the Net Cash Proceeds of any Dispositions required by, or made pursuant to, any Buy/Sell Arrangement and not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.05(i) shall be subject to the requirements of Section 2.05(b)(ii));
(j) Dispositions of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;
(k) the unwinding of any Swap Contract pursuant to its terms;
(l) Permitted Sale Leasebacks;
(m) Dispositions not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 7.05; provided that (i) such Disposition shall be for fair market value as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower in good faith, (ii) if after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Disposition, the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period is greater than 3.50:1.00, with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (m) for a purchase price in excess of $75,000,000, Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 75.0% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (provided, however, that for the purposes of this clause (m)(ii), the following shall be deemed to be cash: (A) the assumption by the transferee of Indebtedness or other liabilities contingent or otherwise of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Subordinated Debt) and the valid release of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, by all applicable creditors in writing, from all liability on such Indebtedness or other liability in connection with such Disposition, (B) securities, notes or other obligations received by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the transferee that are converted by such Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following the closing of such Disposition, (C) Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Debt) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Disposition, to the extent that Holdings and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Disposition and (D) aggregate non-cash consideration
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received by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for all Dispositions under this clause (m) and Section 7.05(t) having an aggregate fair market value (determined as of the closing of the applicable Disposition for which such non-cash consideration is received) not to exceed the greater of (x) $250,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding (net of any non-cash consideration converted into cash and Cash Equivalents received in respect of any such non-cash consideration)) and (iii) Holdings or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary complies with the applicable provisions of Section 2.05;
(n) Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries may surrender or waive contractual rights and settle or waive contractual or litigation claims in the ordinary course of business;
(o) Dispositions of non-core or obsolete assets acquired in connection with Permitted Acquisitions;
(p) any swap of assets in exchange for services or other assets in the ordinary course of business of comparable or greater fair market value of usefulness to the business of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Parent Borrower;
(q) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(r) Specified Dispositions and transactions entered into to consummate a Permitted Tax Restructuring;
(s) any Disposition of Securitization Asset, or participations therein, in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivables Financing or the Disposition of an account receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(t) Dispositions of real property; provided that (i) any such Disposition for a purchase price in excess of $50,000,000 shall be for fair market value as reasonably determined by the Parent Borrower in good faith, (ii) if after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Disposition, the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period is greater than 3.50:1.00, with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (t)(ii) for a purchase price in excess of $75,000,000, Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall receive not less than 75.0% of such consideration in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents (provided, however, that for the purposes of this clause (t)(ii), the following shall be deemed to be cash: (A) the assumption by the transferee of Indebtedness or other liabilities contingent or otherwise of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Subordinated Debt) and the valid release of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, by all applicable creditors in writing, from all liability on such Indebtedness or other liability in connection with such Disposition, (B) securities, notes or other obligations received by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the transferee that are converted by such Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following the closing of such Disposition, (C) Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Debt) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Disposition, to the extent that Holdings and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any Guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with such Disposition and (D) aggregate non-cash
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consideration received by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for all Dispositions under this clause (t) and Section 7.05(m) having an aggregate fair market value (determined as of the closing of the applicable Disposition for which such non-cash consideration is received) not to exceed the greater of (x) $250,000,000 and (y) 15.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding (net of any non-cash consideration converted into cash and Cash Equivalents received in respect of any such non-cash consideration)) and (iii) Holdings or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary complies with the applicable provisions of Section 2.05; and
(u) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of restaurants and related assets (other than real property) to Franchisees or Restricted Subsidiaries that within 180 days become Franchisees, including through the sale of Equity Interests of Persons owning such assets.
To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05 to any Person other than the Parent Borrower, Parent Guarantor (including Holdings) or any Subsidiary Guarantor, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, upon the certification by the Parent Borrower that such Disposition is permitted by this Agreement, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be authorized to take and shall take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.
Section 7.06 Restricted Payments. Declare or make any Restricted Payment, except:
(a) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to Holdings and to other Restricted Subsidiaries (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, to Holdings and any other Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests);
(b) (i) Holdings may (or may make Restricted Payments to permit any direct or indirect parent thereof to) redeem in whole or in part any of its Equity Interests for another class of its (or such parent’s) Equity Interests or rights to acquire its Equity Interests or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests, provided that any terms and provisions material to the interests of the Lenders, when taken as a whole, contained in such other class of Equity Interests are at least as advantageous to the Lenders as those contained in the Equity Interests redeemed thereby and (ii) Holdings may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests;
(c) Restricted Payments made on the Closing Date to consummate the Transaction;
(d) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Section 7.02, Section 7.04 or Section 7.07(e);
(e) repurchases of Equity Interests in the ordinary course of business in Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any Restricted Subsidiary deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;
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(f) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may, in good faith, pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of it or any direct or indirect parent thereof held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager, officer or consultant (or any Affiliates, spouses, former spouses, other immediate family members, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing) of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings) or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any employee, management, director or manager equity plan, employee, management, director or manager stock option plan or any other employee, management, director or manager benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any employee, director, manager, officer or consultant of Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that such payments do not to exceed $35,000,000 in any calendar year, provided that any unused portion of the preceding basket for any calendar year may be carried forward to succeeding calendar years, so long as the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made pursuant to this Section 7.06(f) in any calendar year (after giving effect to such carry forward) shall not exceed $70,000,000; provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries from members of management of Holdings, any of Holdings’ direct or indirect parent companies or any of Holdings’ Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of any of Holdings’ direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of this Agreement;
(g) Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect holder of an Equity Interest in Holdings:
(i) the proceeds of which will be used to pay a Permitted Tax Distribution or a Permitted Canadian Part VI.1 Tax;
(ii) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay such equity holder’s operating costs and expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, other overhead costs and expenses and fees (including (v) administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties, (w) trustee, directors, managers and general partner fees, (x) any judgments, settlements, penalties, fines or other costs and expenses in respect of any claim, litigation or proceeding, (y) fees and expenses (including any underwriters discounts and commissions) related to any investment or acquisition transaction (whether or not successful) and (z) payments in respect of indebtedness and equity securities of any direct or indirect holder of Equity Interests in Holdings to the extent the proceeds are used or will be used to pay expenses or other obligations described in this Section 7.06(g)) which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business and attributable to the ownership or operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (including any reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors, managers or officers of any direct or indirect parent of Holdings attributable to the direct or indirect ownership or operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries) and fees and expenses otherwise due and payable by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and permitted to be paid by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary under this Agreement not to exceed the greater of (x) $125,000,000 and (y) 5.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period in any fiscal year;
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(iii) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay franchise and excise taxes, and other fees and expenses, required to maintain its (or any of its direct or indirect parents’) existence (including any costs or expenses associated with being a public company listed on a national securities exchange);
(iv) to finance any Investment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02; provided that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (B) Holdings or such parent shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be held by or contributed to Holdings a Restricted Subsidiary or (2) the merger (to the extent permitted in Section 7.04) of the Person formed or acquired into it or a Restricted Subsidiary in order to consummate such Permitted Acquisition, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.10;
(v) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary costs, fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering permitted by this Agreement; and
(vi) the proceeds of which shall be used to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent company or partner of Holdings to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(h) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may pay any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement (it being understood that a distribution pursuant to this Section 7.06(h) shall be deemed to have utilized capacity under such other provision of this Agreement);
(i) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may (a) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition and (b) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms;
(j) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may make additional Restricted Payments in an amount, when aggregated with the amount expended pursuant to Section 7.08(a)(iii)(A), not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,000,000,000 and (y) 40.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period;
(k) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may make additional Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed the Available Amount; provided that at the time of any such Restricted Payment, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;
(l) the declaration and payment by Holdings following the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date of Restricted Payments on (or to make Restricted Payments in respect of) the common stock or common equity interests of any Parent Guarantor, Holdings or any Parent Company, in an amount not to exceed the greater of (x) following a public offering of such common stock or common equity interests 6.0% of the proceeds received by or contributed to
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Holdings, a Borrower or a Guarantor in or from any such public offering and (y) 5.0% of Market Capitalization of any Parent Guarantor, Holdings or any Parent Company, in each case, in any fiscal year;
(m) the declaration and payment by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (or the making of Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to declare and pay) of cash dividends with respect to the Preferred Stock in an amount not to exceed 9.0% per annum of the liquidation preference thereof;
(n) following the second anniversary of the Closing Date, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow any direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of all or any portion of the Preferred Stock; provided that (i) at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving effect thereto and to the incurrence of any Indebtedness in connection therewith, (x) the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio as of the end of the most recent Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 4.50:1.00 and (y) the Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of the most recent Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 6.75:1.00 and (ii) no Restricted Payment pursuant to this clause (n) may be financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness incurred (or deemed incurred) pursuant to clause (i) of Section 2.14(a) in violation of the leverage ratios set forth in clause (i) of this proviso;
(o) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may make additional Restricted Payments; provided that, at the time of such Restricted Payment, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the Total Leverage Ratio of Holdings as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 4.75:1.00;
(p) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments in connection with the spin-off of Subsidiaries whose sole assets consist of real property and assets incidental thereto; provided that the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio of Holdings as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 3.50:1.00; and
(q) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments of Securitization Fees, sales, contributions and other transfers of Securitization Assets and purchases of Securitization Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation, in each case in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivables Financing.
Section 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of Holdings with a fair market value in excess of the greater of (x) $200,000,000 and (y) 7.5% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than:
(a) transactions between or among Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction;
(b) transactions on terms not less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary as would be obtainable by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate;
(c) the Transaction and the payment of fees and expenses related to the Transaction;
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(d) the issuance of Equity Interests to any officer, director, manager, employee or consultant of the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Parent Borrower in connection with the Transaction;
(e) the payment of advisory, consulting, refinancing, subsequent transaction and exit fees to the Sponsor in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the amount permitted to be paid pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreement as in effect on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date and related indemnities and reasonable expenses; provided that, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default such amounts may accrue, but not be payable in cash during such period, but all such accrued amounts (plus accrued interest, if any, with respect thereto) may be payable in cash upon the cure or waiver of such Event of Default;
(f) equity issuances, repurchases, redemptions, retirements or other acquisitions or retirements of Equity Interests by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 7.06;
(g) loans and other transactions by and among Holdings and/or one or more Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under this Article VII;
(h) employment and severance arrangements between Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to stock option plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements;
(i) to the extent permitted by Sections 7.06(g)(i) and (iii), payments by Holdings (and any direct or indirect parent thereof) and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any tax sharing agreements among Holdings (and any such direct or indirect parent thereof) and its Restricted Subsidiaries on customary terms to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(j) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, officers, employees and consultants of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(k) transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect;
(l) dividends and other distributions permitted under Section 7.06;
(m) customary payments by Holdings and any Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsor made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), which payments are approved, as applicable pursuant to requirements of law or the relevant constituent documents of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary, by the majority of the members of the board of directors or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors of t Holdings in good faith and such payments shall not exceed 1.0% of the transaction value for each such transaction;
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(n) transactions entered into by an Unrestricted Subsidiary with an Affiliate prior to the redesignation of any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”; provided that such transactions were not entered into in contemplation of such redesignation;
(o) Dispositions for Cash Equivalents (other than in connection with the capitalization of any special purpose entity used to effect any such Permitted Receivables Financing) of accounts receivable in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing;
(p) transactions in connection with Permitted Tax Restructurings; and
(q) any transaction with a Securitization Subsidiary effected as part of a Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivables Financing, any disposition or acquisition of Securitization Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivables Financing.
Section 7.08 Prepayments, Etc., of Indebtedness.
(a) Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner any Subordinated Debt (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled interest, AHYDO payments and mandatory prepayments under any such Subordinated Debt Documents shall not be prohibited by this clause), except for (i) the refinancing thereof with the Net Cash Proceeds of any Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a Permitted Refinancing), (ii) the conversion thereof to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parents (or any Intermediate Holding Company or Parent Guarantor), (iii) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments thereof prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount, when aggregated with the amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.06(j), not to exceed (A) the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 20.0% of Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recently ended Test Period plus (B) the Available Amount (provided that, at the time of any such payment, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom) and (iv) other prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments thereof prior to their scheduled maturity (provided that, at the time of such prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances or other payments, (x) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) the Total Leverage Ratio of Holdings as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, on a Pro Forma Basis, would be no greater than 4.75:1.00).
(b) Amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders any term or condition of any Subordinated Debt Documents without the consent of the Required Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
Section 7.09 Financial Covenant. Except with the written consent of the Required Pro Rata Lenders, permit the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio as of any Compliance Date to be greater than 6.50:1.00.
Section 7.10 Negative Pledge and Subsidiary Distributions. Enter into any agreement, instrument, deed or lease which prohibits or limits (i) the ability of any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of their respective properties or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, for the benefit of the Secured Parties with respect to the Obligations or under the Loan Documents (ii) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to:
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(a) restrictions and conditions imposed by (A) law, (B) any Loan Document or (C) the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and other documents relating to the Senior Secured Notes;
(b) restrictions and conditions existing on the Amendment No. 7 Effective Date or to any extension, renewal, amendment, modification or replacement thereof, except to the extent any such amendment, modification or replacement expands the scope of any such restriction or condition;
(c) customary restrictions and conditions arising in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 7.05;
(d) customary provisions in leases, licenses and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof;
(e) restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to the extent such restriction applies only to the property securing such Indebtedness;
(f) any restrictions or conditions set forth in any agreement in effect at any time any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (but not any modification or amendment expanding the scope of any such restriction or condition), provided that such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and the restriction or condition set forth in such agreement does not apply to Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary;
(g) any restrictions or conditions in any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03 to the extent such restrictions or conditions are no more restrictive than the restrictions and conditions in the Loan Documents or, in the case of Subordinated Debt, are market terms at the time of issuance or, in the case of Indebtedness of any Non-Loan Party, are imposed solely on such Non-Loan Party and its Subsidiaries, provided that any such restrictions or conditions permit compliance with the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement and Section 6.10;
(h) any restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(i) customary provisions in shareholders agreements, joint venture agreements, organizational documents or similar binding agreements relating to any JV Entity or non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary and other similar agreements applicable to JV Entities and non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries permitted under Section 7.02 and applicable solely to such JV Entity or non-Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary and the Equity Interests issued thereby;
(j) customary restrictions in leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements and other similar contracts otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions may relate to the assets subject thereto;
(k) restrictions imposed by any agreement governing Indebtedness entered into on or after the Closing Date and permitted under Section 7.03 that are, taken as a whole, in the good faith judgment of the Parent Borrower, no more restrictive with respect to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary than customary market terms for Indebtedness of such type, so long as the
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Parent Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such restrictions will not adversely affect in any material respect its obligation or ability to make any payments required hereunder; and
(l) restrictions created in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivables Financing that, in the good faith determination of the Parent Borrower, are necessary or advisable to effect such Qualified Securitization Financing or Permitted Receivables Financing.
Section 7.11 Activities Prior to the Closing Date. Prior to the Closing Date, neither Holdings nor the Borrowers shall engage in any material activities other than in connection with the Transaction, performing their obligations under the Escrow Agreement, maintaining their existence and other activities reasonably related thereto. In addition, prior to the Closing Date, the Borrowers or Holdings’ Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into non-speculative hedging agreements in connection with financing arrangements associated with the Acquisition Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
Events of Default and Remedies
Events of Default and Remedies
Section 8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following events referred to in any of clauses (a) through (j) inclusive of this Section 8.01 shall constitute an “Event of Default”:
(a) Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or any other amount payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. Holdings or the Parent Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in (i) any of Section 6.03(a) or Section 6.04 (solely with respect to Holdings or the Parent Borrower), Section 6.11, Section 6.13 or Article VII (other than Section 7.09) or (ii) Section 7.09; provided that an Event of Default under Section 7.09 is subject to a cure pursuant to Section 8.05; provided further that an Event of Default under Section 7.09 shall not constitute an Event of Default for purposes of any Term Loans (other than Term A Loans) unless and until the Required Pro Rata Lenders have actually terminated the Revolving Credit Commitments and any Term A Commitments and/or declared all outstanding obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility and all Term A Loans to be immediately due and payable in accordance with this Agreement; or
(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after receipt by the Parent Borrower of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; provided
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that this clause (d) shall be limited on the Closing Date to the representations and warranties referred to in Section 4.01(f); or
(e) Cross-Default. Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) having an aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness, or any other event occurs (other than (i) with respect to Indebtedness consisting of Swap Contracts, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Swap Contracts and (ii) any event requiring prepayment pursuant to customary asset sale provisions), the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, all such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem all such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (e)(B) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due (or requires an offer to purchase) as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; provided, further, that such failure is unremedied and is not waived by the holders of such Indebtedness; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Except with respect to any dissolution or liquidation of a Restricted Subsidiary expressly permitted by Section 7.04 in connection with the consummation of a Permitted Tax Restructuring, any Loan Party or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. There is entered against any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance) and such judgment or order shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or
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(i) Invalidity of Collateral Documents. Any material provision of any Collateral Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or Section 7.05) or as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect or ceases to create a valid and perfected first priority lien on the Collateral covered thereby; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Collateral Document; or any Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Collateral Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Commitments), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Collateral Document; or
(j) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.
Section 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default.
(a) If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default under Section 8.01(b)(ii) unless the conditions of the second proviso contained therein have been satisfied), the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions:
(i) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers;
(iii) require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(iv) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;
provided that (i) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) with respect to the Parent Borrower, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender and (ii) no such action set forth in this Section 8.02(a) may be taken prior to the Closing Date except as a result of (x) an Event of Default with respect to clause (a) of Section 8.01 with respect to a failure to pay principal or interest when due or (ii) an Event of Default under clause (f) of Section 8.01 with respect to a Borrower.
(b) Subject to the first proviso in Section 8.01(b)(ii), if any Event of Default under Section 8.01(b)(ii) occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Pro Rata Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions:
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(i) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and Term A Loans, and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions, to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and Term A Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document under or in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term A Loans to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers;
(iii) require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(iv) exercise on behalf of itself, the Revolving Credit Lenders and the Term A Lenders all rights and remedies available to it, the Revolving Credit Lenders and the Term A Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Laws, in each case under or in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term A Loans.
Section 8.03 Exclusion of Immaterial Subsidiaries. Solely for the purpose of determining whether a Default has occurred under clause (f) or (g) of Section 8.01, any reference in any such clause to any Restricted Subsidiary or Loan Party shall be deemed not to include any Subsidiary that is an Immaterial Subsidiary or at such time could, upon designation by the Parent Borrower, become an Immaterial Subsidiary affected by any event or circumstances referred to in any such clause unless the Consolidated EBITDA of such Subsidiary together with the Consolidated EBITDA of all other Subsidiaries affected by such event or circumstance referred to in such clause, shall exceed 5% of the Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Section 8.04 Application of Funds. If the circumstances described in Section 2.12(g) have occurred, or after the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), including in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent, subject to any Customary Intercreditor Agreement then in effect, in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to each Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest (including, but not limited to, post-petition interest), ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
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Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal, Unreimbursed Amounts or face amounts of the Loans, L/C Borrowings and Swap Termination Value under Secured Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations and for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Fifth, to the payment of all other Obligations of the Loan Parties that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrowers or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above and, if no Obligations remain outstanding, to the Borrowers.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) amounts received from the Parent Borrower or any Guarantor that is not a “Eligible Contract Participant” (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act) shall not be applied to the obligations that are Excluded Swap Obligations (it being understood, that in the event that any amount is applied to Obligations other than Excluded Swap Obligations as a result of this clause (a), to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Administrative Agent shall make such adjustments as it determines are appropriate to distributions pursuant to clause Fourth above from amounts received from “Eligible Contract Participants” to ensure, as nearly as possible, that the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to obligations described in clause Fourth above by the holders of any Excluded Swap Obligations are the same as the proportional aggregate recoveries with respect to other obligations pursuant to clause Fourth above) and (b) Cash Management Obligations shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank. Each Cash Management Bank not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.
Section 8.05 Permitted Holders’ Right to Cure.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.01(b), in the event that Holdings fails to comply with the requirement of the Financial Covenant from the last day of the Test Period, until the expiration of the tenth day after the date on which financial statements with respect to the Test Period in which such covenant is being measured are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, any of the Permitted Holders shall have the right to make a direct or indirect equity investment in Holdings in cash in the form of common Equity Interests (or other Qualified Equity Interests reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) (the “Cure Right”), and upon the receipt by Holdings of net cash proceeds pursuant to the exercise of the Cure Right (the “Cure Amount”), the
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Financial Covenant shall be recalculated, giving effect to a pro forma increase to Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period in an amount equal to such Cure Amount; provided that (x) such pro forma adjustment to Consolidated EBITDA shall be given solely for the purpose of determining the existence of a Default or an Event of Default under the Financial Covenant with respect to any Test Period that includes the fiscal quarter for which such Cure Right was exercised and not for any other purpose under any Loan Document (including for purposes of determining pricing, mandatory prepayments and the availability or amount permitted pursuant to any covenant under Article VII) for the quarter with respect to which such Cure Right was exercised and (y) there shall be no reduction in Indebtedness in connection with any Cure Amounts for determining compliance with Section 7.09 and no Cure Amounts will reduce (or count towards) the First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio or Total Leverage Ratio for purposes of any calculation thereof for the fiscal quarter with respect to which such Cure Right was exercised unless the proceeds are actually applied to prepay Indebtedness pursuant to Section 2.05(a).
(b) If, after the exercise of the Cure Right and the recalculations pursuant to clause (a) above, Holdings shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Covenant during such Test Period (including for purposes of Section 4.02), Holdings shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the Financial Covenant as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 that had occurred shall be deemed cured; provided that (i) the Cure Right may be exercised on no more than five (5) occasions, (ii) in each four fiscal quarter period, there shall be at least two fiscal quarters in respect of which no Cure Right is exercised and (iii) with respect to any exercise of the Cure Right, the Cure Amount shall be no greater than the amount required to cause Holdings to be in compliance with the Financial Covenant.
ARTICLE IX
Administrative Agent and Other Agents
Administrative Agent and Other Agents
Section 9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Agents.
(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties. The motivations of the Agents are commercial in nature and not to invest in the general performance or operations of the Borrowers.
(b) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each such L/C Issuer shall have all of the
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benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agents in this Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article IX and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender, Swing Line Lender (if applicable), L/C Issuer (if applicable) and a potential Hedge Bank or Cash Management Bank) hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of (and to hold any security interest, charge or other Lien created by the Collateral Documents for and on behalf of or on trust for) such Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX (including Section 9.07, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.
Section 9.02 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents or of exercising any rights and remedies thereunder) by or through Affiliates, agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact, such sub-agents as shall be deemed necessary by the Administrative Agent, and shall be entitled to advice of counsel, both internal and external, and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or sub-agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Section 9.03 Liability of Agents. No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable to any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby, including their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in 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 the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Collateral Documents, or the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the
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observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof. No Agent shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that such Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its judgment or the judgment of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law. No Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Section 9.04 Reliance by Agents.
(a) Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, request, consent, certificate, instrument, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Agent and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.
(b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
Section 9.05 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Parent Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. Subject to the other provisions of this Article IX, the Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to any Event of Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.
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Section 9.06 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents. Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to each Agent that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) in participating as a Lender, it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of investing in the general performance or operations of the Borrowers, or for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument such as a security (and each Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing, such as a claim under the federal or state securities law), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of, and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties hereunder and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by any Agent herein, such Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.
Section 9.07 Indemnification of Agents. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it in its capacity as an Agent-Related Person; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Loan Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 9.07. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.07 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent
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in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrowers, provided that such reimbursement by the Lenders shall not affect the Borrowers’ continuing reimbursement obligations with respect thereto, if any. The undertaking in this Section 9.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.
Section 9.08 Agents in their Individual Capacities. JPMCB and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though JPMCB were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, JPMCB or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any Affiliate of a Loan Party (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, JPMCB shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include JPMCB in its individual capacity.
Section 9.09 Successor Agents. The Administrative Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders and the Parent Borrower. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which appointment of a successor agent shall require the consent of the Parent Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or (g) (which consent of the Parent Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Parent Borrower, a successor agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor administrative agent and/or supplemental administrative agent, as the case may be (and the term “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent and/or supplemental agent, as described in Section 9.01(c)), and the retiring Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and Section 10.04 and Section 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following the retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Collateral Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent and
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Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such amendments or supplements to the Mortgages, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to (a) continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents or (b) otherwise ensure that the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement is satisfied, the Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall, to the extent not previously discharged, be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents.
Section 9.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Section 2.04(e) and (f), Section 2.09 and Section 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and
(c) any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender 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, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Administrative Agent under Section 2.09 and Section 10.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
Section 9.11 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Lenders irrevocably agree:
(a) that any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document shall be automatically released (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (x) obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements not yet due and payable, (y) Cash Management
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Obligations not yet due and payable and (z) contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable), the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit that have been Cash Collateralized or as to which other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer have been made), (ii) at the time the property subject to such Lien is transferred or to be transferred as part of or in connection with any transfer permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document to any Person other than any other Loan Party (provided that in the event of a transfer of assets from a Loan Party to another Loan Party organized in a different jurisdiction, the Collateral Agent shall release such Lien if such transferee Loan Party takes all actions reasonably necessary to grant a Lien in such transferred assets to the Collateral Agent (to the extent required by the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement)) and (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, (iv) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Guarantor, upon release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty pursuant to clause (c) or (d) below or (v) if the property subject to such Lien becomes Excluded Property;
(b) to release or subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Sections 7.01(i) and (o);
(c) (i) if any Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case as a result of a transaction or designation permitted hereunder (as certified in writing delivered to the Administrative Agent by a Responsible Officer of the Parent Borrower) or (ii) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at such time, upon the designation by the Parent Borrower of a Subsidiary Guarantor as a “Designated Non-Guarantor Subsidiary”, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above (x) such Subsidiary shall be automatically released from its obligations under the Guaranty and (y) any Liens granted by such Subsidiary or Liens on the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary (to the extent such Equity Interests have become Excluded Property or are being transferred to a Person that is not a Loan Party) shall be automatically released; provided that to the extent any Restricted Subsidiary becomes an Excluded Subsidiary solely as a result of becoming a non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and otherwise remains a Restricted Subsidiary of a Loan Party, any such release under this clause (c) shall only be automatic if such Restricted Subsidiary became a non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary as a result of a bona fide joint venture transaction or other strategic transaction entered into for a bona fide business purpose, in each case, with any Person that is not an Affiliate of Holdings;
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.11. In each case as specified in this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent will promptly (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to), at the Parent Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents, or to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11.
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Section 9.12 Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers. None of the Lenders, the Agents, the Lead Arrangers, the Documentation Agents, Syndication Agents, or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement or any other Loan Document as a “syndication agent” or “co-arranger” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.
Section 9.13 Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents.
(a) It is the purpose of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall be no violation of any Law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business as agent or trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and in particular in case of the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents, or in case the Administrative Agent deems that by reason of any present or future Law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion as a separate trustee, co-trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, administrative sub-agent or administrative co-agent (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a “Supplemental Administrative Agent” and, collectively, as “Supplemental Administrative Agents”).
(b) In the event that the Administrative Agent appoints a Supplemental Administrative Agent with respect to any Collateral, (i) each and every right, power, privilege or duty expressed or intended by this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to the Administrative Agent with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Administrative Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental Administrative Agent to exercise such rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Collateral and to perform such duties with respect to such Collateral, and every covenant and obligation contained in the Loan Documents and necessary to the exercise or performance thereof by such Supplemental Administrative Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either the Administrative Agent or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, and (ii) the provisions of this Article IX and of Section 10.04 and Section 10.05 that refer to the Administrative Agent shall inure to the benefit of such Supplemental Administrative Agent and all references therein to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be references to the Administrative Agent and/or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, as the context may require.
(c) Should any instrument in writing from any Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Administrative Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Parent Borrower shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent. In case any Supplemental Administrative Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Supplemental Administrative Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Administrative Agent.
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Section 9.14 Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may deduct or withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Loan Document an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the Internal Revenue Service, the Canada Revenue Agency or any other Governmental Authority asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including because the appropriate form was not delivered or was not properly executed or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective), such Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, including any penalties, additions to Tax or interest and together with all expenses (including legal expenses, allocated internal costs and out-of-pocket expenses) incurred, whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.14. The agreements in this Section 9.14 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of this Agreement and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, (1) the term “Lender” shall, for purposes of this Section 9.14, include any L/C Issuer and any Swing Line Lender and (2) this Section 9.14 shall not limit or expand the obligations of the Borrowers or any Guarantor under Section 3.01 or any other provision of this Agreement.
Section 9.15 Cash Management Obligations; Secured Hedge Agreements. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or in any Collateral Document, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.04, any Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Cash Management Obligations or Obligations arising under Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.
Section 9.16 Acknowledgements of Lenders.
(a) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender 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 Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent, may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), 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 (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such
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Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB 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 Lender 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 Lender under this Section 9.16 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(b) Each Lender 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 Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender 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 (or such later date as the Administrative Agent, may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), 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 (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
(c) Each Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrowers or any other Loan Party; provided that in no event shall this Section 9.16(c) result in any duplicative payment.
(d) Each party’s obligations under this Section 9.16 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Section 10.01 Amendments, Etc. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrowers or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Parent Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
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(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or the waiver of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);
(b) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce the amount of, any payment of principal or interest under Section 2.07 or Section 2.08, fees or other amounts without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest;
(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby, it being understood that any change to the definition of First Lien Senior Secured Leverage Ratio or in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrowers to pay interest at the Default Rate;
(d) change any provision of this Section 10.01, the definition of “Required Lenders,” “Required Revolving Credit Lenders,” “Required Pro Rata Lenders” or Section 8.04 without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(d) release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender; provided that any transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or Section 7.05 shall not be subject to this clause (e) to the extent such transaction does not result in the release of all or substantially all of the Collateral; or
(f) release all or substantially all of the Guarantees in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender; provided that any transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or Section 7.05 shall not be subject to this clause (f) to the extent such transaction does not result in the release of all or substantially all of the Guarantees; or
(g) contractually subordinate the Liens granted on all or substantially all of the Collateral to any other Indebtedness for borrowed money, except, (i) any “debtor in-possession” facility or use of cash collateral in any insolvency proceeding, or (ii) any other Indebtedness so long as such Indebtedness is offered ratably to all adversely affected Lenders, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
and provided, further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of a L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan
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Document; (iv) Section 10.07(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; (v) any amendment or waiver that by its terms affects the rights or duties of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any other Class) will require only the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders; (vi) only the consent of the Required Pro Rata Lenders shall be necessary to amend or waive the terms and provisions of Sections 4.02 (as it relates to Borrowings of Revolving Credit Loans), 7.09, 8.01(b)(ii) and 8.05 (and related definitions as used in such Sections, but not as used in other Sections of this Agreement); and (vii) Schedule 1.01A, Schedule 1.01B, Schedule 1.01C, Schedule 1.01D, Schedule 1.01F, Schedule 2.03(a), Schedule 5.06, Schedule 5.11 and Schedule 6.12 may be updated with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld) following the Escrow Closing Date and prior to the Closing Date to reflect circumstances existing on the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term Loans, the Revolving Credit Loans, the Incremental Term Loans, if any, and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and, if applicable, the Required Pro Rata Lenders.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10.01, any guarantees, collateral security documents and related documents executed by Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended, supplemented and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Parent Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any Lender if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects or (iii) to cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Furthermore, with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Parent Borrower (without the need to obtain any consent of any Lender), any Loan Document may be amended to cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects.
Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall amend or waive any provision of the Notes Intercreditor Agreement or other Customary Intercreditor Agreement (other than to cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects or to add other parties thereto (to the extent contemplated by Section 7.01)) without the written consent of the Required Lenders.
Section 10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.
(a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
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(i) if to Holdings, the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender.
All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of Section 10.02(b)), when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person during the person’s normal business hours. In no event shall a voice mail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Parent Borrower may, in their discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications 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 the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
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PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Agent-Related Persons (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Loan Parties, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Parent Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of Holdings, the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agents from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Parent Borrower or Holdings (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or their securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.
(e) Reliance by Agents and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrowers even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrowers shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrowers in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct. All telephonic notices to the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
(f) Notice to other Loan Parties. The Parent Borrower agrees that notices to be given to any other Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be given to the Parent Borrower in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.02 with the same effect as if given to such other Loan Party in accordance with the terms hereunder or thereunder.
Section 10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy,
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power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.
Section 10.04 Attorney Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers agree (a) if the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers for all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses associated with the syndication of the Term B-1 Loans and Revolving Credit Loans and the preparation, execution and delivery, administration, amendment, modification, waiver and/or enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), including all Attorney Costs of Latham & Watkins llp (and any other counsel retained with the Parent Borrower’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)) and one local and foreign counsel in each relevant jurisdiction, and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agents, the Documentation Agents, the Lead Arrangers and each Lender for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any workout or restructuring in respect of the Loans, all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, and including all Attorney Costs of counsel to the Administrative Agent). The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid within ten (10) Business Days of receipt by the Parent Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail. If any Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.
Section 10.05 Indemnification by the Borrowers.
(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrowers shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender, each Lead Arranger, each Syndication Agent, each Documentation Agent and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents, advisors, and other representatives (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims, and reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable Attorney Costs of one counsel for all Indemnitees and, if necessary, one firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Parent Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of counsel for such affected Indemnitee)) of any such Indemnitee arising out of or relating to any claim or any litigation or other proceeding (regardless of whether such Indemnitee is a party thereto and whether or not such proceedings are brought by the Parent Borrower, its equity holders, its Affiliates, creditors or any other third person) that relates to the Transaction, including the financing contemplated hereby, of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery,
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enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), or (c) any actual or alleged presence or Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by Holdings, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to Holdings, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or (d) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any of its controlled Affiliates or controlling Persons or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors or members of any of the foregoing, in each case who are involved in or aware of the Transaction (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision), (y) a material breach of the Loan Documents by such Indemnitee or one of its Affiliates (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision) or (z) disputes solely between and among such Indemnitees to the extent such disputes do not arise from any act or omission of the Parent Borrower or any of its Affiliates (other than with respect to a claim against an Indemnitee acting in its capacity as an Agent, Lead Arranger, or similar role under the Loan Documents unless such claim arose from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee).
(b) Limitation on Liability. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor shall any Indemnitee or any Loan Party have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date).
(c) In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, its directors, managers, partners, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents is consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within ten (10) Business Days after demand therefor; provided, however, that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund such amount to the extent that there is a final judicial or arbitral determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification or contribution rights with respect to such payment pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.05. The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes other than Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, etc., with respect to a non-Tax claim.
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Section 10.06 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of a Borrower is made to any Agent or any Lender, or any Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the NYFRB Rate.
Section 10.07 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, except that, except as otherwise provided herein (including without limitation as permitted under Section 7.04), neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(e), (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(g) or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(h) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.07(e) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) 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 assignees (“Assignees”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:
(A) the Parent Borrower, provided that, no consent of the Parent Borrower shall be required for an assignment (1) of any Term B-5 Loan to any other Lender, any Affiliate of a Lender or any Approved Fund, (2) any Term A Loan to any other Term A Lender or Revolving Credit Lender, or any Affiliate or Approved Fund of a Term A Lender or Revolving Credit Lender (provided, however, that any assignment of Term A Loans that would result in the Assignee (together with its identifiable Affiliates or Approved Funds) holding greater than 15.0% of either (x) the Outstanding Amount of all Term A Loans or (y) the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of all Term A Loans, (ii) unused Term A Commitments and (iii) Revolving Credit Commitments (plus, after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Revolving Credit Exposure) shall require the consent of the Parent Borrower; provided, further, that any assignment of Term A Loans to any other Term A Lender or Revolving Credit Lender, or any Affiliate or Approved Fund of a Term A Lender or Revolving Credit Lender, not purporting to require the consent of the Parent Borrower pursuant to the immediately preceding proviso shall include in the Assignment and Assumption for such assignment a representation (which may be relied upon conclusively by, and without any further investigation by, the Administrative Agent)
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from the Assignee that such Assignee and its Affiliates and Approved Funds do not hold, after giving effect to such assignment, greater than 15.0% of either (x) the Outstanding Amount of all Term A Loans or (y) the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of all Term A Loans and (iii) Revolving Credit Commitments (or, after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Revolving Credit Exposure)), and (3) of any Term Loan, Revolving Credit Loan or Revolving Credit Commitment, if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (f) or (g) (in the case of Section 8.01(f) or (g), with respect to the Parent Borrower) has occurred and is continuing, to any Assignee; provided, further, that with respect to an assignment of Term Loans, such consent shall be deemed to have been given if the Parent Borrower has not responded within 10 Business Days after notice by the Administrative Agent;
(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to another Lender;
(C) each L/C Issuer at the time of such assignment, provided that no consent of such L/C Issuers shall be required for any assignment of a Term Loan; and
(D) in the case of any assignment of any of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Swing Line Lender.
(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 Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, 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 (in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility) or $1,000,000 (in the case of a Term Loan) unless the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents, provided that (1) no such consent of the Parent Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (f) or (g) (in the case of Section 8.01(f) or (g), with respect to the Parent Borrower) has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;
(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption;
(B) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and any documentation required by Section 3.01(f);
(D) the Assignee shall not be a natural person or a Disqualified Lender;
(E) the Assignee shall not be a Defaulting Lender; and
(F) in case of an assignment to a Sponsor Affiliated Lender, (1) after giving effect to such assignment, to all other assignments with all Sponsor Affiliated Lenders, the aggregate principal amount of all Loans and Commitments then held by all Sponsor Affiliated Lenders (other than Affiliated Debt Funds) shall not exceed 25% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding (determined at the time of such purchase), (2) no Revolving Credit Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments shall be assigned to any Sponsor Affiliated
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Lender; provided that Revolving Credit Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments held by a Lender that becomes a Defaulting Lender may be assigned to a Sponsor Affiliated Lender (other than Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries), (3) no proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans shall be used, directly or indirectly, to consummate such assignment, (4) any Loans assigned to Holdings or its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be cancelled promptly upon such assignment, (5) in the event that any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code shall be instituted by or against the Borrowers or any other Guarantor, each Sponsor Affiliated Lender shall acknowledge and agree that they are each “insiders” under Section 101(31) of the Bankruptcy Code and, as such, the claims associated with the Loans and Commitments owned by it shall not be included in determining whether the applicable class of creditors holding such claims has voted to accept a proposed plan for purposes of Section 1129(a)(10) of the Bankruptcy Code, or, alternatively, to the extent that the foregoing designation is deemed unenforceable for any reason, each Sponsor Affiliated Lender shall vote in such proceedings in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by those Lenders who are not Sponsor Affiliated Lenders, except to the extent that any plan of reorganization proposes to treat the Obligations held by such Sponsor Affiliated Lender in a manner that is less favorable in any material respect to such Sponsor Affiliated Lender than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Lenders that are not Sponsor Affiliated Lenders; provided that this clause (5) shall not apply to Affiliated Debt Funds, (6) such Sponsor Affiliated Lender will not receive information provided solely to Lenders and will not be permitted to attend or participate in (or receive any notice of) Lender meetings or conference calls and will not be entitled to challenge the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ attorney-client privilege as a result of their status as Sponsor Affiliated Lenders and (7) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any such Loans acquired by a Sponsor Affiliated Lender may, with the consent of the Parent Borrower, be contributed to the Parent Borrower (whether through any of its direct or indirect parent entities or otherwise) and exchanged for debt or equity securities that are otherwise permitted to be issued at such time.
This paragraph (b) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis.
(c) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.07(d) and receipt by the Administrative Agent from the parties to each assignment of a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.03, 3.04, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note (if any), the Borrowers (at their expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (c) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.07(e). For greater certainty, any assignment by a Lender pursuant to this Section 10.07 shall not in any way constitute or be deemed to constitute a novation, discharge, recession,
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extinguishment or substitution of the existing Indebtedness and any Indebtedness so assigned shall continue to be the same obligation and not a new obligations.
(d) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) and currencies of the Loans, L/C Obligations (specifying the Unreimbursed Amounts), L/C Borrowings and amounts due under Section 2.04, owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent demonstrable error, and the Borrowers, the Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers, any Agent and any Lender (with respect to its own interests only), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(e) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Parent Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or a Defaulting Lender) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrowers, the Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other 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, waiver or other modification described in Section 10.01(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) that directly affects such Participant. Subject to Section 10.07(f), the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.03 and 3.04 (through the applicable Lender), subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections (including Section 3.01(e) and (f) and Sections 3.05 and 3.06), to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(b). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant complies with Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Any Lender that sells participations shall maintain a register on which it enters the name and the address of each Participant and the principal and interest amounts of each Participant’s participation interest in the Commitments and/or Loans (or other rights or obligations) held by it (the “Participant Register”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive, absent demonstrable error, and the Borrowers and such Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation interest as the owner thereof for all purposes notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. In maintaining the Participant Register, such Lender shall be acting as the non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers solely for purposes of applicable United States federal income tax law and undertakes no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Borrowers (without limitation, in no event shall such Lender be a fiduciary of the Borrowers for any purpose). No Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of a Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, or its other obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish in connection with a Tax audit that such commitment, loan, or other obligation is in registered form under
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Section 5f.103(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations or, if different, under Sections 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code.
(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01, 3.03 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Parent Borrower’s prior written consent or except to the extent such entitlement to a greater payment results from a Change in Law after the Participant became a Participant.
(g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Parent Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) an SPC shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 3.01, 3.03 and 3.04, subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections (including Section 3.01(e) and (f) and Sections 3.05 and 3.06), to the same extent as if such SPC were a Lender, but neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.01, 3.03 or 3.04) except to the extent any entitlement to greater amounts results from a Change in Law after the grant to the SPC occurred, (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable and such liability shall remain with the Granting Lender, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee Obligation or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (1) any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it and (2) any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities; provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the
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rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.
(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender may, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Parent Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, respectively; provided that on or prior to the expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have identified, in consultation with the Parent Borrower, a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender willing to accept its appointment as successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable. In the event of any such resignation of an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Borrowers shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders willing to accept such appointment a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided that no failure by the Borrowers to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the relevant L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If an L/C Issuer resigns as an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If the Swing Line Lender resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make, Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).
Section 10.08 Confidentiality. Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information and to not use or disclose such information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority, to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(g); (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Parent Borrower), to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(i), counterparty to a Swap Contract or Permitted Receivables Financing, Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement; (f) with the written consent of the Parent Borrower; (g) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; (h) to any Governmental Authority or examiner regulating any Lender; (i) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to the Loan Parties received by it from such Lender); or (j) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder. In addition, the Agents and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party or its Affiliates or its Affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors or agents, relating to Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or their business, other than any such information that is publicly available to
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any Agent or any Lender prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08, including, without limitation, information delivered pursuant to Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03 hereof.
Section 10.09 Setoff. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and its Affiliates and each L/C Issuer and its Affiliates is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such notice being waived by the Parent Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness (in any currency) at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer and its Affiliates, as the case may be, to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer and its Affiliates hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Lender or its Affiliates and no L/C Issuer or its Affiliates shall have a right to set off and apply any deposits held or other Indebtedness owing by such Lender or its Affiliates or such L/C Issuer or its Affiliates, as the case may be, to or for the credit or the account of any Subsidiary of a Loan Party that is a Foreign Subsidiary or a Domestic Foreign Holding Company. Each Lender and L/C Issuer agrees promptly to notify the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application made by such Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent, such Lender and such L/C Issuer may have.
Section 10.10 Counterparts. This Agreement and each other Loan Document may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission.
Section 10.11 Integration. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents and the Fee Letter, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.
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Section 10.12 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding. The provisions of Sections 10.14 and 10.15 shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.
Section 10.13 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 10.14 GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION, SERVICE OF PROCESS.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED THEREIN).
(b) EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH, ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN (PROVIDED THAT IF NONE OF SUCH COURTS CAN AND WILL EXERCISE SUCH JURISDICTION, SUCH EXCLUSIVITY SHALL NOT APPLY), AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARENT BORROWER, HOLDINGS, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. THE PARENT BORROWER, HOLDINGS, THE SUBSIDIARY BORROWER, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO.
(c) THE PARENT BORROWER HEREBY APPOINTS BURGER KING COMPANY LLC, 5707 BLUE LAGOON DRIVE, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33126 AS ITS AUTHORIZED AGENT (THE “AUTHORIZED AGENT”) UPON WHOM PROCESS MAY BE SERVED IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN WHICH MAY BE INSTITUTED IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK. SERVICE OF
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PROCESS UPON THE AUTHORIZED AGENT SHALL BE DEEMED, IN EVERY RESPECT, EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE PARENT BORROWER.
NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION (I) FOR PURPOSES OF ENFORCING A JUDGMENT, (II) IN CONNECTION WITH EXERCISING REMEDIES AGAINST THE COLLATERAL IN A JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH COLLATERAL IS LOCATED, (III) IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PENDING BANKRUPTCY, INSOLVENCY OR SIMILAR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION OR (IV) TO THE EXTENT THE COURTS REFERRED TO IN THE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER SUCH LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING OR THE PARTIES OR PROPERTY SUBJECT THERETO.
Section 10.15 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 10.15 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 10.16 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by each Borrower and Holdings and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer that each such Lender, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrowers, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that Holdings and the Borrowers shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.
Section 10.17 Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Borrowers in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the
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Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent from the Borrowers in the Agreement Currency, the Borrowers agree, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrowers (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable Law).
Section 10.18 Lender Action. Each Lender agrees that it shall not take or institute any actions or proceedings, judicial or otherwise, for any right or remedy against any Loan Party or any other obligor under any of the Loan Documents or the Secured Hedge Agreements (including the exercise of any right of setoff, rights on account of any banker’s lien or similar claim or other rights of self-help), or institute any actions or proceedings, or otherwise commence any remedial procedures, with respect to any Collateral or any other property of any such Loan Party, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. The provisions of this Section 10.18 are for the sole benefit of the Lenders and shall not afford any right to, or constitute a defense available to, any Loan Party.
Section 10.19 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender hereby notifies the Parent Borrower that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers and the Guarantors, which information includes the name and address 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 USA PATRIOT Act.
Section 10.20 Intercreditor Agreements.
(a) Reference is made to the Notes Intercreditor Agreement and the New Senior Secured Notes Intercreditor Agreement. Each Lender (and, by its acceptance of the benefits of any Collateral Document, each other Secured Party) hereunder (i) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Notes Intercreditor Agreement and the New Senior Secured Notes Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Notes Intercreditor Agreement or the New Senior Secured Notes Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Notes Intercreditor Agreement, the New Senior Secured Notes Intercreditor Agreement and any Customary Intercreditor Agreement, in each case as Collateral Agent and on behalf of such Lender or other Secured Party.
(b) The Secured Parties agree, for the express benefit of the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture Trustee and the holders of the Ratably Secured Existing Notes (each of whom are intended as third party beneficiaries of this Section 10.20), that the Liens created by the Collateral Documents in favor of the Secured Parties over the First Lien Shared Collateral shall at all times be secured on an equal basis, ranking ratably and pari passu, with any Liens on the First Lien Shared Collateral granted by the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Issuer and any Ratably Secured Existing Notes Guarantors in favor of the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture Trustee securing the Ratably Secured Existing Notes and all other obligations under the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture, irrespective of: (i) the time or order of creation, execution, delivery, attachment or perfection of such Liens; (ii) the method of perfection of such Liens; (iii) the time or order of registration or filing of financing statements, land registration forms or other recordings of such Liens; (iv) the giving of or failure to give notice of the acquisition of any additional Liens; (v) the date or dates of any existing or future advance or advances made or other credit accommodation granted or services provided by the
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Secured Parties or the holders of the Ratably Secured Existing Notes; (vi) the date or dates of any default or Event of Default in respect of the Obligations or the date or dates of any default in respect of the obligations under the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture or, in each case, any security granted in respect thereof; (vii) the date of crystallization of any floating charge created by such Liens; (viii) the date of commencement of enforcement proceedings under this Agreement or the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture or the respective security agreements securing the obligations thereunder; or (ix) the priorities otherwise accorded to such Liens by any applicable Laws.
(c) Each Lender (and, by its acceptance of the benefits of any Collateral Document, each other Secured Party) hereunder (i) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent, as Collateral Agent and on behalf of such Lender or other Secured Party, to enter into one or more intercreditor agreements from time to time with the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture Trustee (collectively, the “Ratably Secured Existing Notes Intercreditor Agreement”) that provide for, inter alia, substantially the same rights referred to in Section 10.20(b) and covering any other matters incidental thereto, including provisions relating to the release of the Liens granted in favor of the Ratably Secured Existing Notes Indenture Trustee, and (ii) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any such Ratably Secured Existing Notes Intercreditor Agreement.
Section 10.2 Obligations Absolute. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, all obligations of the Loan Parties hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(a) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation or the like of any Loan Party;
(b) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto against any Loan Party;
(c) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(d) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any other Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to any departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations;
(e) any exercise or non-exercise, or any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect hereof or any Loan Document; or
(f) any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Loan Parties.
Section 10.22 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of the Borrowers and Holdings acknowledge and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrowers, Holdings and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrowers and Holdings have consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each of the Borrowers and Holdings are capable of evaluating,
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and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Lead Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrowers, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, nor any Lender any Lead Arranger has any obligation to the Borrowers, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, each Lender, each Lead Arranger, and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrowers, Holdings and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lead Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrowers, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrowers and Holdings hereby waive and release any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Lead Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
Section 10.23 Quebec Matters.
(i) For the purposes of holding any security granted by any Loan Party pursuant to the laws of the Province of Quebec (“Quebec Security”) to secure payment of any debenture or bond issued by any Loan Party, the Collateral Agent is hereby appointed to act as hypothecary representative (formerly, prior to the entry into force of An Act mainly to implement certain provisions of the Budget Speech of 4 June 2014 and return to a balanced budget in 2015-2016 (“Bill 28”), known as the person holding the power of attorney) (fondé de pouvoir) within the meaning of Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec to act on behalf of each of the debentureholders or bondholders (as applicable), initially JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Collateral Agent for the Secured Parties. The Collateral Agent agrees to act in such capacity. Each Person who is or becomes a Secured Party and each assignee holder of any debenture or bonds issued by any Loan Party shall be deemed to have consented to and ratified the foregoing appointment of the Collateral Agent. The execution by the Collateral Agent, acting as hypothecary representative (formerly, prior to the entry into force of Bill 28, known as the person holding the power of attorney) (fondé de pouvoir), prior to this Agreement of any deeds of hypothec, pledge agreements or other security documents is hereby ratified and confirmed. Each party hereto agrees that, notwithstanding Section 32 of An Act respecting the special powers of legal persons (Quebec), the Collateral Agent shall also be entitled to act as a debentureholder or bondholder (as applicable) and to acquire and/or to hold on behalf of the Secured Parties any debentures, bonds or other titles of indebtedness to be issued under any deed of hypothec executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party. For greater certainty, any reference in any existing Quebec security to the Collateral Agent, as person holding the power of attorney (fondé de pouvoir) or the hypothecary representative, refers to the Collateral Agent, which as of the date hereof, is JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Collateral Agent.
(ii) In addition to paragraph (i) above, for the purpose of holding any Quebec Security, the Secured Parties hereby irrevocably appoint and authorize the Collateral Agent to act as hypothecary representative (fondé de pouvoir) within the meaning of Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec for all present and future Secured Parties. The Collateral Agent agrees to act in such capacity. The execution by the Collateral Agent, acting as hypothecary representative, prior to the date of this Agreement of any deeds of hypothec or other security documents is hereby ratified and confirmed. The appointment of the Collateral Agent as hypothecary representative shall be deemed ratified and confirmed by each Person which becomes a Secured Party in accordance with this Agreement.
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(iii) The Collateral Agent, acting as hypothecary representative (formerly, prior to the entry into force of Bill 28, known as the person holding the power of attorney) (fondé de pouvoir), shall have the same rights, powers, immunities, indemnities and exclusions from liability as are prescribed in favor of the Collateral Agent in this Agreement, which shall apply, mutatis mutandis. Without limiting the foregoing, the provisions of Section 9.09 (Successor Agents) shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the resignation and appointment of a successor to the Collateral Agent acting as hypothecary representative (formerly, prior to the entry into force of Bill 28, known as the person holding the power of attorney) (fondé de pouvoir).
Section 10.24 Joint and Several Liability. Each Borrower is jointly and severally liable under this Agreement for all Obligations, regardless of the manner or amount in which proceeds of the Loans are used, allocated, shared or disbursed by or among the Borrowers themselves, or the manner in which an Agent and/or any Lender accounts for such Loans or other extensions of credit in its book and records. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Loans shall be funded to and received by the Parent Borrower, and the Borrowers shall account for such Loans or other extensions of credit in its books and records consistent with such funding.
Section 10.25 Acknowledgment 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 (other than a Loan Party) 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 10.26 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Contracts or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any
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Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the 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.
[SIGNATURE PAGES INTENTIONALLY REMOVED]
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EXHIBIT 99.1
Burger King® Company Completes Acquisition of Carrols Restaurant Group
TORONTO, May 16, 2024 - Restaurant Brands International Inc. (“RBI”) (TSX: QSR) (NYSE: QSR) (TSX: QSP) announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of all issued and outstanding shares of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (“Carrols”) (formerly NASDAQ: TAST) that are not already held by RBI or its affiliates for $9.55 per share in an all cash transaction, or an aggregate total enterprise value of approximately $1.0 billion.
With the close of the acquisition, RBI adds the largest Burger King® (“BK”) franchisee in the United States to its portfolio as part of the Company’s Reclaim the Flame plan. As previously announced, the Company will invest a further $500M to accelerate the reimaging of more than 600 Carrols restaurants before refranchising the majority of the acquired portfolio to new or existing smaller franchise operators over the next seven years.
In addition, on May 16, 2024, subsidiaries of RBI entered into an amendment to their existing Credit Agreement (the “2024 Amendment”) increasing the existing term loan B facility with $5.2 billion outstanding to a $5.9 billion term loan B facility (the “Term Loan B Facility”) under the same terms as the existing Term Loan B Facility. The proceeds from the increase in the Term Loan B Facility were used along with cash on hand to complete the acquisition of Carrols, including the payoff of its credit agreement and the redemption and discharge of its outstanding 5.875% senior notes due 2029.
About Carrols Restaurant Group
Carrols is one of the largest restaurant franchisees in North America. It is the largest Burger King® franchisee in the United States, currently operating 1,023 Burger King® restaurants in 23 states as well as 59 Popeyes® restaurants in six states. Carrols has operated Burger King® restaurants since 1976 and Popeyes® restaurants since 2019. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.carrols.com.
About Burger King®
Founded in 1954, the Burger King® brand is the second largest fast food hamburger chain in the world. The original Home of the Whopper®, the Burger King® system operates more than 19,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and territories. Nearly all Burger King® restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more about the Burger King® brand, please visit the Burger King® brand website at www.bk.com or follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
About Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with over $40 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 30,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and territories. RBI owns four of the world’s most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands – TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, POPEYES®, and FIREHOUSE SUBS®. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees and communities for decades. Through its Restaurant Brands for Good framework, RBI is improving sustainable outcomes related to its food, the planet, and people and communities. To learn more about RBI, please visit the company’s website at www.rbi.com.
Contacts RBI Contacts Carrols
Investors: [email protected] Investors: [email protected]
Media: [email protected]
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