Limitation on Certain Restrictions on Subsidiaries Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its capital stock or any other interest or participation in its profits owned by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) make loans or advances to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (c) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(i) applicable law;
(ii) this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the other definitive documentation entered into in connection with any of the foregoing;
(iii) any Refinancing Note Documents;
(iv) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing any leasehold interest of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(v) customary provisions restricting assignment of any licensing agreement (in which Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is the licensee) or other contract entered into by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(vi) restrictions on the transfer of any asset pending the close of the sale of such asset;
(vii) any agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, to the extent the relevant encumbrance or restriction was not agreed to or adopted in connection with, or in anticipation of, the respective Permitted Acquisition and does not apply to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings, or the properties of any such Person, other than the Persons or the properties acquired in such Permitted Acquisition;
(viii) encumbrances or restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(ix) any agreement or instrument relating to Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary incurred pursuant to Section 10.04 to the extent such encumbrance or restriction only applies to such Foreign Subsidiary;
(x) an agreement effecting a refinancing, replacement or substitution of Indebtedness issued, assumed or incurred pursuant to an agreement or instrument referred to in clause (vii) above; provided that the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in any such refinancing, replacement or substitution agreement are no less favorable to Holdings or the Lenders in any material respect than the provisions relating to such encumbrance or restriction contained in the agreements or instruments referred to in such clause (vii);
(xi) restrictions on the transfer of any asset subject to a Lien permitted by Section 10.01;
(xii) restrictions and conditions imposed by the terms of the documentation governing any Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, which Indebtedness is permitted by Section 10.04;
(xiii) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 10.05 and applicable solely to such joint venture;
(xiv) on or after the execution and delivery thereof, (x) the Permitted Junior Debt Documents and (y) the Permitted Pari Passu Notes Documents;
(xv) negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness for borrowed money permitted under Section 10.04 but only if such negative pledge or restriction expressly permits Liens for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent and the Secured Creditors with respect to the credit facilities established hereunder and the Obligations under the Credit Documents on a senior basis and without a requirement that such holders of such Indebtedness be secured by such Liens securing the Obligations under the Credit Documents equally and ratably or on a junior basis; and
(xvi) restrictions and conditions under the terms of the documentation governing any Qualified Securitization Transaction or a Receivables Facility that, in each case, permitted by Section 10.04, are necessary or advisable, in the good faith determination of the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, to effect such Qualified Securitization Transaction or such Receivables Facility.
Limitation on Investments The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to make any Investment except:
(a) extensions of trade credit and asset purchases in the ordinary course of business;
(b) Investments that were Permitted Investments when such Investments were made;
(c) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries (i) for reasonable and customary business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes (including employee payroll advances), (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof); provided that, to the extent such loans and advances are made in cash, the amount of such loans and advances used to acquire such Stock or Stock Equivalents shall be contributed to the Borrower in cash and (iii) for purposes not described in the foregoing subclauses (i) and (ii); provided that the aggregate principal amount outstanding pursuant to this subclause (iii) shall not exceed $10,000,000;
(d) Investments existing on, or made pursuant to legally binding written commitments in existence on, the 2014 July Repricing Effective Date and any extensions, renewals or reinvestments thereof, so long as the amount of any Investment made pursuant to this clause (d) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investment existing on, or made pursuant to legally binding written commitments in existence on, the 2014 July Repricing Effective Date;
(e) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers or customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers arising in the ordinary course of business or upon foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;
(f) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with Stock or Stock Equivalents of Holdings;
(g) Investments (i) (a) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Credit Party, (b) between or among Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties, and (c) consisting of intercompany Investments incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations (including with respect to intercompany self-insurance arrangements) among the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (provided that any such intercompany Investment in connection with cash management arrangements by a Credit Party in a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party is in the form of an intercompany loan or advance and the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary complies with Section 9.12 to the extent applicable), (ii) by Credit Parties in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, to the extent that the aggregate amount of all Investments made on or after the 2014 July Repricing Effective Date pursuant to this subclause (ii), when valued at the fair market value (determined by the Borrower acting in good faith) of each such Investment at the time each such Investment was made, would not exceed the sum of (x) $1,000,000,000, when taken together with Investments outstanding at such time in reliance on Section 10.5(i)(x) plus (y) if the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Senior Secured Leverage Test, both before and after giving effect, on a Pro Forma Basis to the making of such Investment, the Applicable Amount at such time plus (z) the Applicable Equity Amount at such time and (iii) by Credit Parties in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party so long as such Investment is part of a series of simultaneous Investments by Restricted Subsidiaries in other Restricted Subsidiaries that result in the proceeds of the initial Investment being invested in one or more Credit Parties;
(h) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions;
(i) Investments (including but not limited to (i) minority Investments and Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (ii) Investments in joint ventures (regardless of the form of legal entity) or similar Persons that do not constitute Restricted Subsidiaries, (iii) Investments in Merchant Acquisition and Processing Alliances (regardless of the form of legal entity) and (iv) Investments in Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties), in each case valued at the fair market value (determined by the Borrower acting in good faith) of such Investment at the time each such Investment is made, in an aggregate amount pursuant to this clause (i) that, at the time each such Investment is made, would not exceed the sum of (x) $1,000,000,000 when taken together with Investments outstanding at such time in reliance on Section 10.5(g)(ii)(x) plus (y) if the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Senior Secured Leverage Test, both before and after giving effect, on a Pro Forma Basis to the making of such Investment, the Applicable Amount at such time plus (z) without duplication of any amount that increased the JV Distribution Amount, an amount equal to any repayments, interest, returns, profits, distributions, income and similar amounts actually received in cash in respect of any such Investment (which amount referred to in this subclause (z) shall not exceed the amount of such Investment valued at the fair market value of such Investment at the time such Investment was made) plus (aa) the Applicable Equity Amount at such time;
(j) Investments constituting non-cash proceeds of Dispositions of assets to the extent permitted by Section 10.4;
(k) Investments made to repurchase or retire Stock or Stock Equivalents of the Borrower or any direct or indirect parent thereof owned by any employee or any stock ownership plan or key employee stock ownership plan of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof);
(l) Investments consisting of dividends permitted under Section 10.6;
(m) loans and advances to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of, dividends to the extent permitted to be made to such parent in accordance with Section 10.6;
(n) 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;
(o) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;
(p) advances of payroll payments to employees in the ordinary course of business;
(q) Guarantee Obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of leases (other than Capital Leases) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(r) Investments held by a Person acquired (including by way of merger or consolidation) after the Original Closing Date otherwise in accordance with this Section 10.5 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;
(s) Investments in Hedge Agreements permitted by Section 10.1;
(t) Investments arising out of or in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing;
(u) Investments in the ordinary course of business in connection with Settlements;
(v) other Investments, that, at the time each such Investment is made, would not exceed the sum of (x) $750,000,000 plus (y) if the Borrower shall be in compliance with the Senior Secured Leverage Test, both before and after giving effect, on a Pro Forma Basis, to the making of such Investment, the Applicable Amount plus (z) the Applicable Equity Amount at such time;
(w) Investments in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 10.3; and
(x) Investments consisting of licensing of intellectual property with other Persons in the ordinary course of business;
(y) Investments constituting contributions or other dispositions of any Foreign Subsidiary to another Foreign Subsidiary; and
(z) Investments by any Credit Party in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the fair market value of all dividends and other distributions received by Credit Parties from Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties since the Initial Effectiveness Date.
Limitation on Certain Restrictions The Borrower will not, and will not permit or cause any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any restriction or encumbrance on (i) the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to perform and comply with their respective obligations under the Credit Documents or (ii) the ability of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to make any dividend payments or other distributions in respect of its Capital Stock, to repay Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, to make loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, or to transfer any of its assets or properties to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, in each case other than such restrictions or encumbrances existing under or by reason of the Credit Documents or applicable Requirements of Law.
Limitation on Subsidiary Distributions Holdings will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any such Restricted Subsidiary to:
(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(b) make loans or advances to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; or
(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; except (in each case) for such encumbrances or restrictions (x) which the Borrowers have reasonably determined in good faith will not materially impair the Borrowers’ ability to make payments under this Agreement when due or (y) existing under or by reason of:
(i) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Closing Date, including pursuant to this Agreement and the related documentation and related Hedging Obligations;
(ii) the Unsecured Asset Sale Bridge;
(iii) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and Capitalized Lease Obligations that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (c) above on the property so acquired;
(iv) Requirement of Law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;
(v) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by or merged or consolidated with or into Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, or that is assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person, in each case that is in existence at the time of such transaction (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired or designated;
(vi) contracts for the sale of assets, including customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary of Holdings pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary and restrictions on transfer of assets subject to Permitted Liens;
(vii) (x) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to Sections 10.1 and 10.2 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness and (y) restrictions on transfers of assets subject to Permitted Liens (but, with respect to any such Permitted Lien, only to the extent that such transfer restrictions apply solely to the assets that are the subject of such Permitted Lien);
(viii) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(ix) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock of Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred subsequent to the Closing Date pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.1;
(x) customary provisions in joint venture agreements or arrangements and other similar agreements or arrangements relating solely to such joint venture and the Equity Interests issued thereby;
(xi) customary provisions contained in leases, sub-leases, licenses, sub-licenses or similar agreements, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(xii) restrictions created in connection with any Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the board of directors of Holdings, are necessary or advisable to effect such Receivables Facility; and
(xiii) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b), and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (i) through (xii) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements, or refinancings (x) are, in the good faith judgment of Holdings’ board of directors, no more restrictive in any material respect with respect to such encumbrance and other restrictions taken as a whole than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing or (y) do not materially impair the Borrowers’ ability to pay their respective obligations under the Credit Documents as and when due (as determined in good faith by the Borrowers).
Limitation on Asset Sales The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets that are sold or otherwise disposed of, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors or a senior officer of the Company; and
(2) at least 75% of the consideration received by the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary from the Asset Sale is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that in the case of the sale of all of the IMC Salt Business Unit and Xxxxx, in the alternative, up to 35% of the consideration received by the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary in the sale may be in the form of Capital Stock of the Person that will hold the IMC Salt Business Unit and Xxxxx following the Asset Sale if the remainder is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided, further, that the requirement in this clause (2) shall not apply in the case of the sale of all or any part of the IMC Chemicals Business Unit. For the purposes of clause (2) above, the amount of any Indebtedness shown on the most recent applicable balance sheet of the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to the Notes or any Note Guarantee, that is assumed by the transferee of any such assets will be deemed to be cash. Additionally, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, must apply the Net Cash Proceeds from each Asset Sale to:
(1) repay Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement;
(2) repay (including by purchase) secured obligations;
(3) repay (including by purchase) any Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor; and/or
(4) make an investment in or expenditures for assets (including Capital Stock of any entity) (a) that replace the assets that were the subject of the Asset Sale or (b) that will be used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as existing on the Issue Date or in businesses reasonably related thereto (“Replacement Assets”). Any Net Cash Proceeds that the Company does not apply, or decides not to apply, in accordance with the preceding paragraph will constitute a “Net Proceeds Offer Amount.” The 366th day after an Asset Sale or any earlier date on which the Board of Directors of the Company determines not to apply the Net Cash Proceeds in accordance with the preceding paragraph is a “Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date.” When the aggregate Net Proceeds Offer Amount is equal to or exceeds $25.0 million, the Company must make an offer to purchase (the “Net Proceeds Offer”) on a date that is not less than 30 days nor more than 45 days following the applicable Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, from
(a) all Holders of Notes and
(b) all holders of other Indebtedness (“Other Indebtedness”) that (x) is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and (y) contains provisions requiring that an offer to purchase such Other Indebtedness be made with the proceeds from the Asset Sale, on a pro rata basis, the maximum principal amount of Notes and Other Indebtedness that may be purchased with the Net Proceeds Offer Amount. The offer price for Notes in any Net Proceeds Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be purchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes, if any, to the date of purchase. The following events will be deemed to constitute an Asset Sale and the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Sale must be applied in accordance with this Section 4.10:
(1) in the event any non-cash consideration received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in connection with any Asset Sale is converted into or sold or otherwise disposed of for cash (other than interest received with respect to any such non-cash consideration), or
(2) in the event of the transfer of substantially all, but not all, of the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as an entirety to a Person in a transaction permitted under Section 5.01, and as a result thereof the Company is no longer an obligor on the Notes, the successor corporation shall be deemed to have sold the assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries not so transferred for purposes of this Section 4.10, and shall comply with the provisions of this Section 4.10 with respect to such deemed sale as if it were an Asset Sale. In addition, the fair market value of such assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries deemed to be sold shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds for purposes of this Section 4.10. Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately preceding paragraphs, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate an Asset Sale without complying with such provisions to the extent that (a) at least 75% of the consideration for such Asset Sale constitutes Replacement Assets and (b) such Asset Sale is for fair market value. Any cash consideration that does not constitute Replacement Assets that is received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any Asset Sale permitted under this paragraph will constitute Net Cash Proceeds and will be subject to the provisions described in the preceding paragraphs. The Company shall mail a notice of a Net Proceeds Offer by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the record Holders as shown on the register of Holders within 30 days following the Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date, with a copy to the Trustee, containing all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer and shall state the following terms:
(1) that the Net Proceeds Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.10, that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment; provided, however, that if the aggregate principal amount of Notes and Other Indebtedness tendered in a Net Proceeds Offer plus accrued interest at the expiration of such offer exceeds the aggregate amount of the Net Proceeds Offer, the Company shall select on a pro rata basis, the Notes and Other Indebtedness to be purchased (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, as applicable, or multiples thereof shall be purchased) and that the Net Proceeds Offer shall remain open for a period of 20 business days or such longer periods as may be required by law;
(2) the offer price (including the amount of accrued interest) and the Net Proceeds Offer date of payment (“Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date”) (which shall be not less than 30 nor more than 45 days following the applicable Net Proceeds Offer Trigger Date and which shall be at least five business days after the Trustee receives notice thereof from the Company);
(3) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;
(4) that, unless the Company defaults in making payment therefor, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date;
(5) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer will be required to surrender such Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the business day prior to the Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date;
(6) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the second business day prior to the Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of the Notes such Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased; and
(7) that Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part will be issued new Notes in a principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered; provided, however, that each Note purchased and each new Note issued shall be in an original principal amount of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof. On or before the Net Proceeds Offer Payment Date, the Company shall (a) accept for payment Notes or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000) validly tendered pursuant to the Net Proceeds Offer, (b) deposit with the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 2.15 U.S. Dollars sufficient to pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, of all Notes to be purchased and (c) deliver to the Trustee Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the Company. Upon receipt by the Paying Agent of the monies specified in clause (b) above and a copy of the Officers’ Certificate specified in clause (c) above, the Paying Agent shall promptly mail to the Holders of Notes so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, out of the funds deposited with the Paying Agent in accordance with the preceding sentence. The Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to such Holders new Notes equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered. Upon the payment of the purchase price for the Notes accepted for purchase, the Trustee shall return the Notes purchased to the Company for cancellation. Any monies remaining after the purchase of Notes pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer shall be returned within three business days by the Trustee to the Company except with respect to monies owed as obligations to the Trustee pursuant to Article Seven. For purposes of this Section 4.10, the Trustee shall act as the Paying Agent. To the extent the amount of Notes tendered pursuant to any Net Proceeds Offer is less than the amount of Net Cash Proceeds subject to such Net Proceeds Offer, the Company may use any remaining portion of such Net Cash Proceeds not required to fund the repurchase of tendered Notes for general corporate purposes and such Net Proceeds Offer Amount shall be reset to zero. The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.10, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the provisions of this Section 4.10 by virtue thereof.
Limitations on Investments Make or permit to exist, or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to make or permit to exist, any Investment, other than Investments which are:
(a) cash and Cash Equivalents;
(b) current assets generated in the ordinary course of business;
(c) accounts receivable created, acquired or made in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms;
(d) Investments consisting of capital stock, obligations, securities or other property received in settlement of accounts receivable (created in the ordinary course of business) from bankrupt obligors;
(e) advances to employees for moving and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business;
(f) advances or loans to directors, officers and employees that do not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;
(g) advances or loans to customers and suppliers in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount consistent with the past practice of the Person making such advance or loan;
(h) loans to shareholders intended to constitute dividends on, or payment on account of, any capital stock;
(i) Investments or Support Obligations by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the Effective Date;
(j) Investments by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (provided that such Investment would not otherwise constitute a breach of Section 8.08);
(k) Support Obligations of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;
(l) acquisitions permitted by Section 8.08 and Investments consisting of capital stock, obligations, securities or other property received in connection with any merger, sale or other combination permitted by Section 8.03;
(m) Investments in connection with the management of Pension Plans and other benefit plans of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including without limitation The Pittston Company Employee Welfare Benefit Trust);
(n) Hedging Agreements permitted by Section 8.06;
(o) advances or loans to any Person with respect to the deferred purchase price of property, services or other assets in dispositions permitted by Section 8.03; and
(p) Investments of a nature not contemplated in the foregoing subsections in an amount not to exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Worth.
Limitation on Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (a) make Restricted Payments in respect of any Capital Stock of such Subsidiary held by, or pay or subordinate any Indebtedness owed to, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, (b) make Investments in the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or (c) transfer any of its assets to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) any restrictions existing under the Loan Documents, (ii) any restrictions existing under the New Senior Note Indenture, the New Senior Note Indenture and any agreements governing Indebtedness permitted by Sections 6.2(f), to the extent such restrictions are no more restrictive than those in the Senior Note Indenture or the New Senior Note Indenture, (iii) any restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary, (iv) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into in by any Loan Party so long as such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Loan Parties to meet their ongoing obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and (v) with respect to clause (c) only, (i) customary non-assignment provisions in licenses or sublicenses by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (in which case such prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the Intellectual Property subject thereto), (ii) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and similar agreements that restrict transfers of assets of, or equity interests in, such joint venture, (iii) agreements governing Indebtedness permitted by Sections 6.2(g), (h) and (m) (provided that, in the case of such agreements governing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.2(h), such prohibition or limitation shall be effective only against the property acquired thereby), (iv) agreements entered into by a Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor governing Liens permitted by Section 6.3(m) or the Indebtedness secured thereby (in which case such prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets of such Subsidiary subject to such Lien) and (v) any agreements governing any purchase money Liens or Capital Lease Obligations otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets financed thereby).
Limitation on Disposition of Assets The Company is, subject to certain conditions, obligated to make an offer to purchase Securities at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase with certain net cash proceeds of certain sales or other dispositions of assets in accordance with the Indenture.
Limitation on Designations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries Level 3 shall not designate (1) the Borrower or Level 3 LLC as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or (2) any other Subsidiary (other than a newly created Subsidiary in which no Investment has previously been made) as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” under this Agreement (a “Designation”) unless in the case of this clause (2):
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such Designation;
(b) immediately after giving effect to such Designation, Level 3 would be able to Incur $1.00 of Indebtedness under paragraph (a) of Section 6.01; and
(c) Level 3 would not be prohibited under any provision of this Agreement from making an Investment at the time of Designation (assuming the effectiveness of such Designation) in an amount (the “Designation Amount”) equal to the portion (proportionate to Level 3’s equity interest in such Restricted Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary on such date. In the event of any such Designation, Level 3 shall be deemed to have made an Investment constituting a Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 6.03 for all purposes of this Agreement in the Designation Amount; provided, however, that, upon a Revocation of any such Designation of a Subsidiary, Level 3 shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary of an amount (if positive) equal to (i) Level 3’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such Revocation less (ii) the portion (proportionate to Level 3’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such Revocation. At the time of any Designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall not own any Capital Stock of Level 3 or any Restricted Subsidiary. In addition, neither Level 3 nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall at any time (x) provide credit support for, or a Guarantee of, any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness); provided, however, that Level 3 or a Restricted Subsidiary may pledge Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary on a nonrecourse basis such that the pledgee has no claim whatsoever against Level 3 other than to obtain such pledged Capital Stock or Indebtedness, (y) be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or (z) be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness which provides that the holder thereof may (upon notice, lapse of time or both) declare a default thereon or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its final scheduled maturity upon the occurrence of a default with respect to any Indebtedness, Lien or other obligation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any right to take enforcement action against such Unrestricted Subsidiary), except in the case of clause (x) or (y) to the extent permitted under Sections 6.03 and 6.09. Unless Designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of Level 3 will be classified as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Subsidiary shall not be designated as a Restricted Subsidiary and shall be automatically classified as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if either of the requirements set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of the immediately following paragraph will not be satisfied immediately following such classification. Except as provided in the first sentence of this Section 6.10, no Restricted Subsidiary may be redesignated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. A Designation may be revoked (a “Revocation”) by a Board Resolution of Level 3 delivered to the Administrative Agent, provided that Level 3 will not make any Revocation unless:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of and after giving effect to such Revocation; and
(b) all Liens and Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary outstanding immediately following such Revocation would, if Incurred at such time, have been permitted to be Incurred at such time for all purposes of this Agreement. All Designations and Revocations must be evidenced by Board Resolutions of Level 3 delivered to the Administrative Agent (i) certifying compliance with the foregoing provisions and (ii) giving the effective date of such Designation or Revocation. Upon Designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in compliance with this Section 6.10, such Restricted Subsidiary shall, by delivery of documentation providing for such release in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, be released from any Guarantee (in the case of a Guarantor) and its obligations under the Collateral Agreement (in the case of a Grantor) previously made by such Subsidiary.
Limitation on Sales of Assets and Subsidiary Stock (a) [Reserved].
(b) The Issuer will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:
(1) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration (including by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise) at least equal to the fair market value (such fair market value to be determined on the date of contractually agreeing to such Asset Disposition), as determined in good faith by an Officer or the Board of Directors of the Issuer, of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if such Asset Disposition is a Permitted Asset Swap); and
(2) in any such Asset Disposition, or series of related Asset Dispositions (except to the extent the Asset Disposition is a Permitted Asset Swap), at least 75% of the consideration from such Asset Disposition or such series of related Asset Dispositions (excluding any consideration by way of relief from, or by any other Person assuming responsibility for, any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, other than Indebtedness), together with all other Asset Dispositions since the Issue Date (except to the extent any such Asset Disposition was a Permitted Asset Swap) on a cumulative basis received by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of cash, Cash Equivalents or Temporary Cash Investments.
(c) After the receipt of Net Available Cash from an Asset Disposition, the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, may apply such Net Available Cash directly or indirectly (at the option of the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary):
(1) within 365 days from the later of (A) the date of such Asset Disposition and (B) the receipt of such Net Available Cash (i) to prepay, repay, purchase or redeem any Indebtedness incurred under Section 4.04(b)(1) or any Guarantor Indebtedness; provided, however, that, in connection with any prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to this Section 4.08(c)(1)(B)(i), the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary will retire such Indebtedness and will cause the related commitment (if any) (except in the case of any revolving Indebtedness) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid, purchased or redeemed; (ii) unless included in Section 4.08(c)(1)(B)(i), to prepay, repay, purchase or redeem any Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, at a price of no more than 100% of the principal amount of such Pari Passu Indebtedness plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of such prepayment, repayment, purchase or redemption; provided that the Issuer or such Guarantor, as applicable, shall prepay, redeem, repay or repurchase Pari Passu Indebtedness that is Public Debt pursuant to this clause (ii) only if the Issuer or such Guarantor purchases through open-market purchases at a price equal to or higher than 100% of the principal amount thereof, or makes an offer to the Holders of the Notes to purchase their Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to at least 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) for, in each case, an aggregate principal amount of Notes at least equal to the proportion that (x) the total aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding bears to (y) the sum of the total aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding plus the total aggregate principal amount outstanding of such Pari Passu Indebtedness; (iii) to prepay, repay, purchase or redeem any Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or any Indebtedness that is secured on assets (other than Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer or a Guarantor or Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary); (iv) to purchase the Notes through open-market purchases at a price equal to or higher than 100% of the principal amount thereof, or make an offer to all holders of the Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to at least 100% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) or (v) to redeem the Notes as described under Section 3.07;
(2) to the extent the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary elects, to invest in or purchase or commit to invest in or purchase Additional Assets (including by means of an investment in Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary with Net Available Cash received by the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary) within 365 days from the later of (i) the date of such Asset Disposition and (ii) the receipt of such Net Available Cash; provided, however, that any such reinvestment in Additional Assets made pursuant to a definitive binding agreement or a commitment approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer that is executed or approved within such time will satisfy this requirement, so long as such investment or commitment to invest is consummated within 180 days of such 365th day;
(3) to make a capital expenditure within 365 days from the later of (A) the date of such Asset Disposition and (B) the receipt of such Net Available Cash; provided, however, that any such capital expenditure made pursuant to a definitive binding agreement or a commitment approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer that is executed or approved within such time will satisfy this requirement, so long as such investment is consummated within 180 days of such 365th day; or
(4) any combination of clauses (1) through (3) of Section 4.08(c), provided that, pending the final application of any such Net Available Cash in accordance with clauses (1), (2), (3) or (4) of Section 4.08(c), the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries may temporarily reduce Indebtedness or otherwise invest such Net Available Cash in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture.
(d) Any Net Available Cash from Asset Dispositions that is not applied or invested or committed to be applied or invested as provided in Section 4.08(c) will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” On the 366th day (or the 546th day, in the case of any Net Available Cash committed to be used pursuant to a definitive binding agreement or commitment approved by the Board of Directors of the Issuer pursuant to clause (2) or (3) of Section 4.08(c)) after the later of (A) the date of such Asset Disposition and (B) the receipt of such Net Available Cash, if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $100 million, the Issuer will be required within ten (10) Business Days thereof to make an offer (“Asset Disposition Offer”) to all holders of the Notes and, to the extent the Issuer or a Guarantor elects, or the Issuer or a Guarantor is required by the terms of other outstanding Pari Passu Indebtedness, to all holders of such other outstanding Pari Passu Indebtedness to purchase the maximum principal amount of such Notes and any such Pari Passu Indebtedness to which the Asset Disposition Offer applies that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in respect of the Notes in an amount equal to (and, in the case of any Pari Passu Indebtedness, an offer price of no more than) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes and 100% of the principal amount of Pari Passu Indebtedness, in each case, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture or the agreements governing the Pari Passu Indebtedness, as applicable, and in the case of the Notes, in minimum denominations of $200,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. No such purchase in part shall reduce the principal amount at maturity of the Notes held by any holder to below $200,000. The Issuer may satisfy the foregoing obligations with respect to any Net Available Cash from an Asset Disposition by making an Asset Disposition Offer with respect to such Net Available Cash prior to the time period that may be required by this Indenture with respect to all or a part of the available Net Available Cash (the “Advance Portion”) in advance of being required to do so by this Indenture (an “Advance Offer”).
(e) [Reserved].
(f) To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to an Asset Disposition Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries may use any remaining Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) for general corporate purposes, to the extent not prohibited by the other covenants contained in this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of the Notes surrendered in any Asset Disposition Offer by Holders and other Pari Passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders or lenders, collectively, exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion), the Excess Proceeds (or, in the case of an Advance Offer, the Advance Portion) shall be allocated among the Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of tendered Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness. For the purposes of calculating the principal amount of any such Indebtedness not denominated in dollars, such Indebtedness shall be calculated by converting any such principal amounts into their Dollar Equivalent determined as of a date selected by the Issuer that is within the Asset Disposition Offer Period (as defined below). Upon completion of any Asset Disposition Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero, and in the case of an Advance Offer, the amount of Net Available Cash the Issuer is offering to apply in such Advance Offer shall be excluded in subsequent calculations of Excess Proceeds.
(g) To the extent that any portion of Net Available Cash payable in respect of the Notes is denominated in a currency other than dollars, the amount thereof payable in respect of the Notes shall not exceed the net Dollar Equivalent of the amount that is actually received by the Issuer.
(h) The Asset Disposition Offer, in so far as it relates to the Notes, will remain open for a period of not less than 20 Business Days following its commencement or such shorter period of time required to comply with Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws or regulations in connection with the Asset Disposition Offer (the “Asset Disposition Offer Period”). No later than five (5) Business Days after the termination of the Asset Disposition Offer Period (the “Asset Disposition Purchase Date”), the Issuer will purchase the principal amount of Notes and, to the extent it elects, Pari Passu Indebtedness required to be purchased by it pursuant to this Section 4.08 (the “Asset Disposition Offer Amount”) or, if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been so validly tendered, all Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness validly tendered in response to the Asset Disposition Offer.
(i) On or before the Asset Disposition Purchase Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Asset Disposition Offer Amount of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness or portions of Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Asset Disposition Offer, or if less than the Asset Disposition Offer Amount has been validly tendered and not properly withdrawn, all Notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness so validly tendered and not properly withdrawn and, in the case of the Notes, in minimum denominations of $200,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(j) The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Issuer in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.
