Capitalization of the Company and its Subsidiaries The Company's authorized capital stock consists solely of (a) 20,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.05 par value per share ("Company Common Stock"), and (b) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share ("Company Preferred Stock"). As of October 31, 1997, (i) 3,891,981 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 201,385 shares of Company Common Stock were issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options, an additional 230,749 shares of Company Common Stock were issuable upon the exercise of options that are not currently outstanding but are reserved for issuance upon the designation of optionees by the Board of Directors of the Company and 154,175 shares of Company Common Stock were issuable upon the exercise or conversion of outstanding warrants or convertible securities granted or issuable (on a contingent basis or otherwise) by the Company, and (iii) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Since October 31, 1997, except as disclosed in Section 4.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not issued any shares of its capital stock except upon the exercise of such options, warrants or convertible securities. Each outstanding share of capital stock of the Company and each Subsidiary is duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights. As of the date hereof, other than as set forth above, in the Company SEC Documents (as defined in Section 4.7) or in Section 4.4 to the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding shares of capital stock or subscriptions, options, warrants, puts, calls, agreements, understandings, claims or other commitments or rights of any type relating to the issuance, sale or transfer by the Company or either Subsidiary of any securities of the Company or either Subsidiary, nor are there outstanding any securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of the Company or either Subsidiary; and neither the Company nor either Subsidiary has any obligation of any kind to issue any additional securities or to pay for securities of the Company or either Subsidiary or any predecessor. The Company has no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other similar obligations the holders of which have the right to vote generally with holders of Company Common Stock.
Limitation on Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries The Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than a Guarantor or the Issuer, to guarantee the payment of any First Lien Obligations, including any Indebtedness (or any interest on such Indebtedness) under the Senior Credit Facilities, the NXP Notes and the Existing Secured Notes unless:
(1) such Restricted Subsidiary within 30 days executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, the form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto, providing for a Guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, any such guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantee substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes;
(2) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and shall not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against any Guarantor or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Person under its Guarantee or otherwise; and
(3) such Restricted Subsidiary shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:
(A) such Guarantee has been duly executed and authorized; and
(B) such Guarantee constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary, except insofar as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) and except insofar as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity.
Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries The Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to Guarantee any Indebtedness of the Company which is pari passu with or subordinate in right of payment to the Notes ("Guaranteed Indebtedness"), unless (i) such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental indenture to this Indenture providing for a Guarantee (a "Subsidiary Guarantee") of payment of the Notes by such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Subsidiary Guarantee; provided that this paragraph shall not be applicable to any Guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. If the Guaranteed Indebtedness is (A) pari passu with the Notes, then the Guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be pari passu with, or subordinated to, the Subsidiary Guarantee or (B) subordinated to the Notes, then the Guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Subsidiary Guarantee at least to the extent that the Guaranteed Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary Guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary may provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon (i) any sale, exchange or transfer, to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company, of all of the Company's and each Restricted Subsidiary's Capital Stock in, or all or substantially all the assets of, such Restricted Subsidiary (which sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture) or (ii) the release or discharge of the Guarantee which resulted in the creation of such Subsidiary Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such Guarantee.
Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness other than Permitted Indebtedness; provided, however, that if no Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of or would occur as a consequence of the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), and Restricted Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors may incur Acquired Indebtedness, in each case if, after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company is at least 2.0 to 1.0 (the “Coverage Ratio Exception”). The Company will not, directly or indirectly, in any event incur any Indebtedness that purports to be by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) subordinated to any other Indebtedness of the Company unless such Indebtedness is also by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) subordinated to the Notes to the same extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to such other Indebtedness of the Company. No Subsidiary Guarantor will, directly or indirectly, in any event incur any Indebtedness that purports to be by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) subordinated to any other Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also by its terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such Indebtedness) subordinated to the Note Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor to the same extent and in the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated to such other Indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section 4.08, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 4.08 shall not be deemed to be exceeded as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.08:
(a) the outstanding principal amount of any particular Indebtedness shall be counted only once and any obligation arising under any guarantee, Lien, letter of credit or similar instrument supporting such Indebtedness shall be disregarded; and
(b) in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (3) through (19) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the Coverage Ratio Exception, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.08 (provided that all outstanding Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement on the Issue Date shall be deemed to have been incurred pursuant to clause (3) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness”) and may later reclassify such item into any one or more of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (3) through (19) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness” (provided that at the time of reclassification it meets the criteria in such category or categories).
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.
Admission of the Corporate Taxpayer into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets (a) If the Corporate Taxpayer is or becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income tax return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of state or local law, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.
(b) If any entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder transfers one or more assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) with which such entity does not file a consolidated tax return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment (e.g., calculating the gross income of the entity and determining the Realized Tax Benefit of such entity) due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution. The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the contributed asset. For purposes of this Section 7.11, a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.
Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness (a) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Indebtedness, other than Intercompany Indebtedness, if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP is greater than 60% of the sum of (without duplication):
(1) the Total Assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the calendar quarter covered in the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the Commission (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, with the Trustee) prior to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness; and
(2) the purchase price of any assets included in the definition of Total Assets acquired, and the amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire items included in the definition of Total Assets or used to reduce indebtedness), by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such calendar quarter, including those proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness.
(b) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Indebtedness if the ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service to the Annual Debt Service Charge for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date on which such additional Indebtedness is to be incurred shall have been less than 1.5:1, on a pro forma basis after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, and calculated on the assumption that:
(1) such Indebtedness and any other Indebtedness incurred by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period and the application of the proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other Indebtedness, had occurred at the beginning of such period;
(2) the repayment or retirement of any other Indebtedness by the Issuer and its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period had been repaid or retired at the beginning of such period (except that, in making such computation, the amount of Indebtedness under any revolving credit facility shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such period);
(3) in the case of Acquired Indebtedness or Indebtedness incurred in connection with any acquisition since the first day of such four-quarter period, the related acquisition had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition being included in such pro forma calculation; and
(4) in the case of any acquisition or disposition by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets since the first day of such four-quarter period, whether by merger, stock purchase or sale, or asset purchase or sale, such acquisition or disposition or any related repayment of Indebtedness had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition being included in such pro forma calculation.
(c) The Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Indebtedness secured by any Encumbrance upon any of the property of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, whether owned at the date of the Indenture or thereafter acquired, if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness secured by an Encumbrance and the application of the proceeds thereof, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis which is secured by any Encumbrance on property of the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries is greater than 40% of the sum of (without duplication):
(1) the Total Assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the calendar quarter covered in the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, most recently filed with the Commission (or, if such filing is not permitted under the Exchange Act, with the Trustee) prior to the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness; and
(2) the purchase price of any assets included in the definition of Total Assets acquired, and the amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire items included in the definition of Total Assets or used to reduce Indebtedness), by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such calendar quarter, including those proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of such additional Indebtedness.
(d) The Issuer and its Subsidiaries may not at any time own Total Unencumbered Assets equal to less than 150% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Unsecured Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
Formation or Acquisition of Subsidiaries Notwithstanding and without limiting the negative covenants contained in Sections 7.3 and 7.7 hereof, at the time that Borrower or any Guarantor forms any direct or indirect Subsidiary or acquires any direct or indirect Subsidiary after the Effective Date, Borrower and such Guarantor shall (a) cause such new Subsidiary to provide to Bank a joinder to this Agreement to become a co-borrower hereunder or a Guaranty to become a Guarantor hereunder, together with such appropriate financing statements and/or Control Agreements, all in form and substance satisfactory to Bank (including being sufficient to grant Bank a first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) in and to the assets of such newly formed or acquired Subsidiary), (b) provide to Bank appropriate certificates and powers and financing statements, pledging all of the direct or beneficial ownership interest in such new Subsidiary, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank; and (c) provide to Bank all other documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, including one or more opinions of counsel satisfactory to Bank, which in its opinion is appropriate with respect to the execution and delivery of the applicable documentation referred to above. Any document, agreement, or instrument executed or issued pursuant to this Section 6.13 shall be a Loan Document.
Limitation on Creation of Subsidiaries Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, establish, create or acquire after the Effective Date any Subsidiary, provided that Borrower and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries may (x) establish, create and, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, acquire Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries and (y) establish, create and acquire non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries to the extent permitted by the definition of Permitted Acquisition, in each case so long as (i) all of the capital stock and other equity interests of such new Subsidiary (except in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, in which case, 65% of the capital stock and other equity interests) are (to the extent owned by a Credit Party) pledged to the Lender pursuant to, and to the extent required by, the Security Agreement, (ii) each such new Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary (and, to the extent required by Section 8.13, each new Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary) executes and delivers to the Lender a counterpart of the Subsidiaries Guaranty and the Security Agreement, (iii) each such new Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary (and, to the extent required by Section 8.13, each new Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary) enters into such mortgages and other Additional Security Documents as Lender may require pursuant to Section 8.12 and (iv) each such new Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary (and to the extent required by Section 8.13, each new Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary) executes and delivers all other relevant documentation (including opinions of counsel, resolutions, officers’ certificates and UCC financing statements) of the type described in Section 5 as such new Subsidiary would have had to deliver if it were a Credit Party on the Effective Date.
Permitted Activities of Holdings Holdings shall not:
(a) incur any third party Indebtedness for borrowed money other than Guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary, which Indebtedness or other obligations are otherwise permitted or not prohibited hereunder;
(b) create or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it other than (i) the Liens created under the Collateral Documents and, subject to the Closing Date Intercreditor Agreement, the collateral documents relating to any Second Lien Term Loans, in each case, to which it is a party, (ii) any other Lien created in connection with the Transactions, (iii) Liens on the Collateral that are secured on a pari passu or junior basis with the Secured Obligations, so long as such Liens secure Guarantees permitted under clause (a)(ii) above and the underlying Indebtedness subject to such Guarantee is permitted to be secured on the same basis pursuant to Section 6.02 and (iv) Liens of the type permitted under Section 6.02 (other than in respect of debt for borrowed money); or
(c) consolidate or amalgamate with, or merge with or into, or convey, sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to, any Person; provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom and subject to Sections 6.11(a) and (b), (A) Holdings may consolidate or amalgamate with, or merge with or into, any other Person (other than the Borrower and any of its subsidiaries) so long as (i) Holdings is the continuing or surviving Person or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not Holdings (w) the successor Person (such successor Person, “Successor Holdings”) expressly assumes all obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto and/or thereto in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (x) Successor Holdings shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the US, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (y) the Administrative Agent shall have a security interest in the Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Collateral Documents that is perfected to at least the same extent as in effect immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or amalgamation and all actions reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain such perfected status have been or will promptly be taken (subject to the terms of the applicable Loan Documents), and (z) the Borrower delivers a certificate of a Responsible Officer with respect to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clause (w) of this clause (A)(ii) and (B) Holdings may otherwise convey, sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person organized or existing under the laws of the US, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (other than the Borrower and any of its subsidiaries) so long as (x) no Change of Control results therefrom, (y) the Person acquiring such assets expressly assumes all of the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto and/or thereto in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (z) the Borrower delivers a certificate of a Responsible Officer with respect to the satisfaction of the conditions under clause (y) set forth in this clause (B); provided, further, that (1) if the conditions set forth in the preceding proviso are satisfied, Successor Holdings will succeed to, and be substituted for, Holdings under this Agreement and (2) it is understood and agreed that Holdings may convert into another form of entity organized or existing under the laws of the US, any state thereof or the District of Columbia so long as such conversion does not adversely affect the value of the Guarantees under the Loan Guaranty or the Collateral.
