Limitation on Subsidiary Guarantor Liability Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Subsidiary Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under this Article Ten, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance. Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment for distribution under its Subsidiary Guarantee is entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on the adjusted net assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor.
Limitation on Obligations (a) The provisions of this Guaranty are severable, and in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of the Guarantor's liability under this Guaranty, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Guaranty to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Guarantor, the Agent or any Bank, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the Guarantor's "Maximum Liability"). This Section 9
(a) with respect to the Maximum Liability of the Guarantor is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Agent hereunder to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and neither the Guarantor nor any other person or entity shall have any right or claim under this Section 9(a) with respect to the Maximum Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law.
(b) The Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Liability of the Guarantor, and may exceed the aggregate Maximum Liability of the Guarantor and all other guarantors, without impairing this Guaranty or affecting the rights and remedies of the Agent hereunder. Nothing in this Section 9(b) shall be construed to increase the Guarantor's obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Liability.
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 Borrowings Outstanding borrowings under the Line of Credit, to a maximum of the principal amount set forth above, shall not at any time exceed an aggregate of (i) seventy-five percent (75.0%) of Borrower's Eligible Accounts Receivable (as defined below), plus (ii) the lesser of (A) $14,000,000, and (B) eighty percent (80.0%) of the Appraised Net Recovery Value (as defined below) of Borrower's inventory. The amount calculated pursuant to the preceding sentence is referred to herein as the "Borrowing Base". All of the foregoing shall be determined by Bank upon receipt and review of all collateral reports required hereunder and such other documents and collateral information as Bank may from time to time require. Borrower acknowledges that the Borrowing Base was established by Bank with the understanding that if there at any time exists any other matters, events, conditions or contingencies which Bank reasonably believes may affect payment of any portion of Borrower's accounts, Bank, in its sole discretion, may reduce the foregoing advance rate against Eligible Accounts Receivable to a percentage appropriate to reflect additional dilution and/or establish additional reserves against Borrower's Eligible Accounts Receivable. As used herein, "Eligible Accounts Receivable" shall consist solely of trade accounts created in the ordinary course of Borrower's business, net of all (x) returned goods authorizations, and (y) allowances for warranties, and upon which Borrower's right to receive payment is absolute and not contingent upon the fulfillment of any condition whatsoever, and in which Bank has a perfected security interest of first priority, and shall not include:
(i) any account which remains unpaid more than sixty (60) days past the due date thereof;
(ii) that portion of any account for which there exists any right of setoff (including deposits, loans and warranties), defense or discount (except regular discounts allowed in the ordinary course of business to promote prompt payment) or for which any defense or counterclaim has been asserted;
(iii) any account which represents an obligation of any state or municipal government or of the United States government or any political subdivision thereof (except accounts which represent obligations of the United States government and for which the assignment provisions of the Federal Assignment of Claims Act, as amended or recodified from time to time, have been complied with to Bank's satisfaction);
(iv) any account which represents an obligation of an account debtor located in a foreign country other than an account debtor located in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan or the Yukon Territory so long as, in Bank's determination, such Canadian jurisdictions recognize Bank's first priority security interest in and right to collect such account as a consequence of any security agreements and UCC filings in favor of Bank and except to the extent any such account, in Bank's determination, is supported by a letter of credit or insured under a policy of foreign credit insurance, in each case in form, substance and issued by a party acceptable to Bank;
(v) any account which arises from the sale or lease to or performance of services for, or represents an obligation of, an employee, director, affiliate, partner, member, parent or subsidiary of Borrower;
(vi) that portion of any account which represents interim or progress xxxxxxxx or retention rights on the part of the account debtor;
(vii) any account which represents an obligation of any account debtor when twenty percent (20%) or more of Borrower's accounts from such account debtor are not eligible pursuant to (i) above;
(viii) that portion of any account from an account debtor which represents the amount by which Borrower's total accounts from said account debtor exceeds twenty-five percent (25%) of Borrower's total accounts; provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any accounts owing by AutoZone so long as the senior unsecured debt rating of AutoZone, Inc. by Standard & Poor's (a division of the McGraw-Hills Companies) is BBB- or better and such rating by Xxxxx'x Investors Service is Baa3 or better; and
(ix) any account deemed ineligible by Bank when Bank, in its sole discretion, deems the creditworthiness or financial condition of the account debtor, or the industry in which the account debtor is engaged, to be unsatisfactory. As used herein, "Appraised Net Recovery Value" of Borrower's inventory shall mean the amount reflected as the "net recovery value" of Borrower's inventory in the most recent quarterly appraisal of inventory (performed by the Great American Group or another appraiser acceptable to Bank) required pursuant to Section 4.11.
Limitation on Guarantee Obligations Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Guarantee Obligation except:
(a) Guarantee Obligations in existence on the Closing Date and listed in Schedule 8.4(a), and any refinancings, refundings, extensions or renewals thereof, provided that the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall not be increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal except to the extent that the amount of Indebtedness in respect of such Guarantee Obligations is permitted to be increased by subsection 8.2(o);
(b) Guarantee Obligations for performance, bid, appeal, judgment, replevin and similar bonds and suretyship arrangements, all in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Guarantee Obligations in respect of indemnification and contribution agreements expressly permitted by subsection 8.10(iv) or similar agreements by the Parent Borrower;
(d) Reimbursement Obligations in respect of the Letters of Credit or reimbursement obligations in respect of any other letters of credit permitted under subsection 8.2;
(e) Guarantee Obligations in respect of third-party loans and advances to officers or employees of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (i) for travel and entertainment expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) for relocation expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) for other purposes in an aggregate amount so long as all Guarantee Obligations incurred under this paragraph (e), together with the aggregate amount of all Investments permitted under subsection 8.8(e) (other than clause (iv) thereof), does not exceed $5,000,000 outstanding at any time;
(f) obligations to insurers required in connection with worker’s compensation and other insurance coverage incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(g) obligations of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries under any Interest Rate Protection Agreements (other than those entered into for speculative purposes) or under Permitted Hedging Arrangements;
(h) Guarantee Obligations incurred in connection with acquisitions permitted under subsection 8.9, provided that if any such Guarantee Obligation inures to the benefit of any Person other than the Person from whom such acquisition is made or any Affiliate thereof, such Guarantee Obligation shall not exceed, with respect to any such acquisition, 70% of the purchase price of such acquisition (including any Indebtedness assumed in connection with any such acquisition) (or such greater percentage as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the U.S. Administrative Agent or, if any such purchase price shall be greater than $75,000,000, such greater percentage shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Lenders);
(i) guarantees made by the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations of the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to subsections 8.2(b), (c), (d), (j), (k) and (q)) which obligations are otherwise permitted under this Agreement;
(j) Guarantee Obligations in connection with sales or other dispositions permitted under subsection 8.6, including indemnification obligations with respect to leases, and guarantees of collectability in respect of accounts receivable or notes receivable for up to face value;
(k) Guarantee Obligations incurred pursuant to the U.S. Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any Canadian Security Document or otherwise in respect of Indebtedness permitted by subsection 8.2(a);
(l) Guarantee Obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to subsections 8.2(b), (c) and (d), provided that (x) if any such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of any Loan Party hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then any corresponding Guarantee Obligations are subordinated to Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to this Agreement and other Loan Documents to substantially the same extent, (y) Guarantee Obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to subsections 8.2(b) and 8.2(d) shall be permitted only so long as such Guarantee Obligations are incurred only by Guarantors or Borrowers and (z) Guarantee Obligations in respect of Assumed Indebtedness permitted pursuant to subsection 8.2(c) shall be permitted to the extent no additional guarantors of such Indebtedness are added following the Closing Date;
(m) accommodation guarantees for the benefit of trade creditors of the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(n) Guarantee Obligations in respect of Indebtedness or other obligations of a Person in connection with a joint venture or similar arrangement in respect of which no other co-investor or other Person has a greater legal or beneficial ownership interest than the Parent Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and as to all of such Persons does not at any time exceed $20,000,000 in aggregate principal amount; provided that such amount shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of Investments permitted by subsection 8.8(k); and
(o) Guarantee Obligations of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries incurred pursuant to subsection 8.2(q); provided that the aggregate amount of such Guarantee Obligations outstanding pursuant to this clause (o), when aggregated with (i) all dividends made pursuant to paragraph 8.7(k), (ii) all Investments (determined as the amount originally advanced, loaned or otherwise invested, less any returns on the respective Investment) outstanding pursuant to paragraphs 8.8(k) and (o), (iii) all cash consideration paid in respect of acquisitions pursuant to paragraph 8.9(b)(iii) and (iv) all optional prepayments made pursuant to subsection 8.13(f) do not at any time exceed $100,000,000.
Limitation on Subsidiary Indebtedness The Company shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to Incur any Indebtedness, other than
(A) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company consisting of (i) Guarantees by such Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company under Credit Facilities or (ii) Liens granted by such Subsidiary to secure such Guarantee or such Indebtedness of the Company, in an aggregate principal amount (without duplication), when taken together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens on the property or assets (which includes capital stock) of the Company and its Subsidiaries Incurred pursuant to the second sentence and clause (1) of the first paragraph of Section 3.02, not to exceed the Permitted Amount at the time of Incurrence of such Guarantee or Lien;
(B) Indebtedness of any Designated Subsidiary or any Subsidiary of such Designated Subsidiary, provided that, with respect to this clause (B) only, no portion of such Indebtedness is recourse to the Company or any of its other Subsidiaries;
(C) Acquired Indebtedness;
(D) Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date of any Subsidiary of the Company;
(E) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used or will be used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund, other Indebtedness that was permitted by this Supplemental Indenture to be Incurred under clause (C) or (D) of this Section 3.01; or
(F) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount, at anytime outstanding, not to exceed $250.0 million. The maximum amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to this Section 3.01 shall not be deemed to be exceeded with respect to any outstanding Indebtedness due solely to the result of fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies.
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF ADSs
Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantor's Liability Each Subsidiary Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of Securities hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Subsidiary Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any federal, state or foreign law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of Securities and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal, state or foreign law.
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 Guarantor Liability Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
