Limitation on Restricted Payments The U.S. Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly (x) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the U.S. Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests, including any dividend or distribution payable in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation, other than (A) dividends or distributions by the U.S. Borrower payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the U.S. Borrower or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the U.S. Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities, (y) purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the U.S. Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of the U.S. Borrower, including in connection with any merger or consolidation, or (z) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value in each case, prior to any scheduled repayment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of purchase, repurchase or acquisition) (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (x) through (z) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), other than:
(i) Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed the Applicable Amount; provided that at the time any such Restricted Payment is made and after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment (x) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) the U.S. Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 6.01(a);
(ii) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of the U.S. Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Refinancing Indebtedness of such Person that is incurred in compliance with Section 6.01(b)(xv);
(iii) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests in any direct or indirect parent companies of the U.S. Borrower held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant (or their respective estates, Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the U.S. Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any other entity in which the U.S. Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary has an Investment and that is designated in good faith as an “affiliate by the Board of Directors of the U.S. Borrower (or the compensation committee thereof), in each case pursuant to any stockholders’ agreement, any management equity plan or stock incentive plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement; provided that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (iii) do not exceed $60.0 million in the first fiscal year following the Closing Date (with unused amounts in any fiscal year being carried over to succeeding fiscal years subject to a maximum (without giving effect to the following proviso) of $100.0 million in any fiscal year; provided, further, that such amount in any fiscal year may be increased by an amount not to exceed the (A) cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the U.S. Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date, plus (B) the cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the U.S. Borrower and, to the extent contributed to the U.S. Borrower, Equity Interest of any of the U.S. Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, directors, managers or consultants (or their respective estates, Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), of the U.S. Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Closing Date, to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments in reliance on clause (i) of this Section 6.04 or the making of Investments in reliance on clause (q) of the definition of Permitted Investments, less (C) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made pursuant to clauses (A) and (B) of this clause (iii); and provided, further, that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the U.S. Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from members of management, directors, managers or consultants (or their respective estates, Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members), of the U.S. Borrower, any of its direct or indirect parent companies or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of any of the U.S. Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies shall not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 6.04 or any other provision of this Agreement;
(iv) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;
(v) the declaration and payment of dividends by the U.S. Borrower to, or the making of loans to, its direct or indirect parent company in amounts required for the U.S. Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies to pay, in each case without duplication, (A) franchise taxes, and other fees and expenses, required to maintain their corporate existence, (B) for any period in which the U.S. Borrower is a member of a group filing consolidated, combined or unitary income tax returns for which a direct or indirect parent of the U.S. Borrower is the common parent (a “Tax Group”), to pay the foreign, federal, state and/or local income taxes (as applicable) of such Tax Group for such taxable period, to the extent such income taxes are attributable to the income of the U.S. Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and, to the extent of the amount actually received from its Unrestricted Subsidiaries for such purpose, income taxes to the extent attributable to the income of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided that in each case the amount of such payments for any fiscal year does not exceed the amount that the U.S. Borrower, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) would be required to pay in respect of such foreign, federal, state and/or local income taxes (as applicable) for such fiscal year were the U.S. Borrower, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries (to the extent described above) to pay such taxes as a stand-alone group, less any such taxes payable directly by the U.S. Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries; (C) customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent company of the U.S. Borrower to the extent such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of the U.S. Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (D) general corporate overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent company of the U.S. Borrower to the extent such expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of the U.S. Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, and (E) reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with any unsuccessful debt or equity offering by such direct or indirect parent company of the U.S. Borrower;
(vi) [Reserved];
(vii) distributions or payments of Receivables Fees;
(viii) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests of the U.S. Borrower or any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the U.S. Borrower, in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of the U.S. Borrower (other than any Disqualified Stock) or, to the extent the proceeds thereof have actually been contributed to the U.S. Borrower, Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent company of the U.S. Borrower (“Refunding Capital Stock”);
(ix) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;
(x) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;
(xi) Restricted Payments made pursuant to agreements set forth on Schedule 6.04;
(xii) other Restricted Payments in an amount which, when taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (xii) and all Investments outstanding in reliance on clause (u) of the definition of “Permitted Investments,” does not exceed the greater of (x) $200.0 million and (y) 15% of EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period as of the time any such Restricted Payment is made;
(xiii) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise (and the declaration of such dividend), of shares of Equity Interest of, or Indebtedness issued to the U.S. Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary by, any Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the primary assets of which are cash and/or Cash Equivalents);
(xiv) the declaration and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the U.S. Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary issued in accordance with Section 6.01 to the extent such dividends are included in the definition of “Interest Charges”;
(xv) the declaration and payment of dividends (A) to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued by the U.S. Borrower after the Closing Date, (B) to a direct or indirect parent company of the U.S. Borrower, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of such parent company issued after the Closing Date, or (C) on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock (provided that the amount of dividends paid pursuant to subclause (B) shall not exceed the aggregate amount of cash actually contributed to the U.S. Borrower from the sale of such Preferred Stock); provided that (x) all such dividends are included in “Interest Charges” and (y) in the case of each of (A), (B) and (C) of this clause (xv), that for the most recently ended Test Period, after giving effect to such issuance or declaration on a pro forma basis, the U.S. Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis would have had an Interest Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;
(xvi) the declaration and payment of dividends on the U.S. Borrower’s common stock in an amount equal to 6% of the net proceeds received by or contributed to the U.S. Borrower in or from any public underwriting offering of any common stock of any direct or indirect parent company of the U.S. Borrower (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such offering consummated after January 26, 2007 and prior to the Closing Date), other than public offerings with respect to the U.S. Borrower’s common stock registered on Form S−4 or Form S−8 and other than any public sale constituting an Excluded Contribution;
(xvii) payments made or expected to be made by the U.S. Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any repurchases (including in respect of withholding or similar Taxes payable in connection therewith) of Equity Interests held by any future, present or former employee, director, manager or consultant (or their respective estates, Controlled Investment Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) including deemed repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options;
(xviii) Restricted Payments consisting of a dividend or other distribution or exchange (and the declaration thereof) of Equity Interests of any entity or entities constituting the Designated Business; provided that (i) as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) prior to the date of such Restricted Payment, after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment (including the application of the net proceeds therefrom), the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio at such time does not exceed 4.90:1.00 and (ii) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and
(xix) repurchases, redemptions or repayments of any Subordinated Indebtedness from net cash proceeds of any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(xxvi); provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (i), (xii) and (xvi) of this Section 6.04, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.
Limitations on Restricted Payments (a) The Parent shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make any Restricted Payment unless:
(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Parent could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Ratio Exception; and
(3) the amount of such Restricted Payment, when added to the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made after November 8, 2012 (other than Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 4.04(b) (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7)), does not exceed the sum (the “Restricted Payments Basket”) of (without duplication):
(A) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one accounting period) from October 1, 2012 to and including the last day of the fiscal quarter ended immediately prior to the date of such calculation for which consolidated financial statements are available (or, if such Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such aggregate deficit), plus
(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds or the Fair Market Value (as determined by the Board of Directors of Parent) of any assets to be used in a Permitted Business received by the Parent either (x) as contributions to the common equity of the Parent after November 8, 2012 or (y) from the issuance and sale of Qualified Equity Interests after November 8, 2012, plus
(C) the aggregate amount by which Indebtedness of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary is reduced on the Parent’s balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Parent) of Indebtedness issued subsequent to November 8, 2012 into Qualified Equity Interests (less the amount of any cash, or the fair value of assets, distributed by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange), plus
(D) in the case of the disposition or repayment of or return on any Investment that was treated as a Restricted Payment made after November 8, 2012, an amount (to the extent not included in the computation of Consolidated Net Income) equal to the lesser of (i) the return of capital with respect to such Investment and (ii) the amount of such Investment that was treated as a Restricted Payment, in either case, less the cost of the disposition of such Investment and net of taxes, plus
(E) upon a Redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the lesser of (i) the Fair Market Value of the Parent’s proportionate interest in such Subsidiary immediately following such Redesignation, and (ii) the aggregate amount of the Parent’s Investments in such Subsidiary to the extent such Investments reduced the amount available for subsequent Restricted Payments under this Section 4.04(a)(E) and were not previously repaid or otherwise reduced, plus
(F) 100% of the principal amount of, or, if issued at a discount, the accreted value of, any guarantee by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred after November 8, 2012 that is subsequently released (other than due to a payment on such guarantee), but only to the extent that such guarantee was treated as a Restricted Payment pursuant to this paragraph (a) when made.
(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:
(1) the payment by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of any dividend or similar distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if on the date of declaration the payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;
(2) the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent issuance and sale of, Qualified Equity Interests (other than to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries);
(3) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent incurrence of, Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 4.03 and the other terms of this Indenture;
(4) the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Parent held by officers, directors or employees or former officers, directors or employees (or their transferees, estates or beneficiaries under their estates), upon their bankruptcy or petition for bankruptcy, death, disability, retirement, severance or termination of employment or service or any other repurchase event set forth in a written agreement between Parent and such individual evidencing such Equity Interest as of the Issue Date; provided that the aggregate cash consideration paid for all such redemptions shall not exceed $4,000,000 during any calendar year;
(5) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights if the Equity Interests represents a portion of the exercise price thereof;
(6) the repurchase of Equity Interests upon vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance share units or similar equity incentives to satisfy tax withholding or similar tax obligations with respect thereto; or
(7) Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, when taken together with all Restricted Payments made pursuant to this Section 4.04(b)(7) and then outstanding, does not exceed $20,000,000. provided that no issuance and sale of Qualified Equity Interests pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(2) or (3) shall increase the Restricted Payments Basket, except to the extent the proceeds thereof exceed the amounts used to effect the transactions described therein. The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment.
Restricted Payments, etc No Credit Agreement Party will, nor will permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or pay any dividends (other than dividends payable solely in non-redeemable common stock or comparable common equity interests of the U.S. Borrower or any such Subsidiary, as the case may be) or return any equity capital to, its stockholders, partners, members or other equity holders or authorize or make any other distribution, payment or delivery of property or cash to its stockholders, partners, members or other equity holders as such, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for a consideration, any shares of any class of its capital stock or other Equity Interests, now or hereafter outstanding (or any warrants for or options or stock appreciation rights in respect of any of such shares or other Equity Interests), or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes, and no Credit Agreement Party will permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire for a consideration any shares of any class of the capital stock or other Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary now or hereafter outstanding (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued by such Person with respect to its capital stock or other Equity Interests) (all of the foregoing “Dividends”) or make any payments in respect of any outstanding Intercompany Debt, except that:
(i) (x) any Subsidiary of the U.S. Borrower may pay Dividends to the U.S. Borrower or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the U.S. Borrower and (y) any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the U.S. Borrower may pay cash Dividends to its shareholders generally so long as the U.S. Borrower or its respective Subsidiary which owns the Equity Interest in the Subsidiary paying such Dividends receives at least its proportionate share thereof (based upon its relative holding of the Equity Interests in the Subsidiary paying such Dividends and taking into account the relative preferences, if any, of the various classes of Equity Interests of such Subsidiary); provided that any Dividend made pursuant to preceding clause (x) to any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party may only be made if (A) (I) no Specified Default and no Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom and (II) such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary promptly distributes and/or transfer any Property received pursuant to such Dividend (directly or indirectly through other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries) to a Credit Party or (B) the Subsidiary making such Dividend is not a Credit Party; provided, however, that, subject to Section 9.01(c)(v), any such Dividend may be made to the Bermuda Partnership notwithstanding the existence of an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under Section 10.01 or 10.05) so long as (a) the Bermuda Partnership complies with clause (II) of the preceding proviso and (b) the Bermuda Partnership Partners are (after giving effect to the receipt of any Dividend from Bermuda Partnership) in compliance with the requirements of Section 9.01(c);
(ii) the U.S. Borrower may redeem or purchase shares of, or options to purchase, U.S. Borrower Common Stock held by former officers or employees of the U.S. Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries following the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of such officers or employees, provided that (x) the only consideration paid by the U.S. Borrower in respect of such redemptions and/or purchases shall be cash, (y) the aggregate amount paid by the U.S. Borrower in cash in respect of all such redemptions and/or purchases shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any Fiscal Year of Holdings, and (z) at the time of any redemption or purchase pursuant to this Section 9.06(ii), no Specified Default or Event of Default shall then exist or result therefrom;
(iii) [Reserved];
(iv) [Reserved];
(v) [Reserved];
(vi) the U.S. Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make payments with respect to Intercompany Debt, so long as the respective payment is permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Intercompany Subordination Agreement;
(vii) [Reserved];
(viii) the U.S. Borrower may pay regularly scheduled Dividends on Qualified Preferred Stock issued by it pursuant to the terms thereof solely through the issuance of additional shares of such Qualified Preferred Stock rather than in cash;
(ix) [Reserved];
(x) [Reserved];
(xi) so long as no Default and no Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, any Existing Senior Notes, any Permitted Senior Notes and any Permitted Refinancing Senior Notes may be refinanced with any Permitted Refinancing Senior Notes in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement;
(xii) so long as no Specified Default and no Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, any Scheduled Existing Indebtedness, any Permitted Acquired Debt and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance same may be refinanced with Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Existing Senior Notes and any Permitted Refinancing Senior Notes may be exchanged for Equity Interests of the U.S. Borrower permitted by Section 9.09(a);
(xiii) in addition to the actions permitted above, the U.S. Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make Investments (and, without duplication, may repurchase or redeem (so long as any repurchased Indebtedness is promptly cancelled) any Indebtedness otherwise described in Section 9.08(a)(i)) so long as (I) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, (II) the aggregate amount of cash expended pursuant to this Section 9.06(xiii) to effect such Investments after the Restatement Effective Date does not exceed the sum of (x) $50,000,000 and (y) the aggregate amount of Retained Excess Cash Flow Amount at the time such Investment is made and (III) to the extent any such Investment (or any part thereof) is made in reliance on preceding clause (II)(y), calculations are made by the U.S. Borrower of compliance with Section 9.04(a) (regardless of whether any Indebtedness is then being incurred pursuant to said Section 9.04(a)) for the Calculation Period most recently ended prior to the date of the respective repurchase or redemption (determined on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Investment and the incurrence of any Indebtedness to finance same), as set forth in a certificate by an Authorized Officer of the U.S. Borrower furnished to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Investment, and such calculations shall show that, after giving effect to the respective Investment (and any other contemporaneous Investments) and any Indebtedness being incurred in connection therewith, the U.S. Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 9.04(a) at such time; provided that, to the extent that such Investments constitute redemptions and/or repurchases of Existing Senior Notes, Permitted Senior Notes and/or Permitted Refinancing Senior Notes from time to time (whether redeemed in accordance with the terms of the indenture therefor and/or repurchased on the open market), all such Existing Senior Notes, Permitted Senior Notes or Permitted Refinancing Senior Notes, as the case may be, so repurchased or redeemed are promptly cancelled by the U.S. Borrower; and
(xiv) in addition to the actions permitted above, the U.S. Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make Investments in (and, without duplication, may repurchase or redeem) any Existing 2009 Senior Notes or Existing 2010 Senior Notes so long as (I) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, (II) the aggregate amount of cash expended pursuant to this Section 9.06(xiv) to effect such Investments after the Restatement Effective Date does not exceed $50,000,000, (III) after giving effect to such Investments, redemptions and repurchases, the U.S. Borrower (A) would be in compliance on a pro forma basis with Section 9.13 as of the last day of the most recently completed Test Period for which financial statements are available and (B) has not less than $70,000,000 of unutilized ABL Commitments and (IV) all such Existing 2009 Senior Notes or Existing 2010 Senior Notes so repurchased or redeemed are promptly cancelled by the U.S. Borrower.
Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company, (b) make any loans or advances to the Company or (c) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company, except:
(1) with respect to clauses (a), (b) and (c),
(A) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock and other agreements or instruments in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date;
(B) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any Indebtedness Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary or Capital Stock or other agreement or instrument of such Restricted Subsidiary in existence on or prior to the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company or otherwise became a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness Incurred, Capital Stock issued or agreements or instruments entered into as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company) and outstanding on such date;
(C) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement effecting a Refinancing in whole or in part of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in subclause (A) or (B) of clause (1) of this Section 4.10 or this subclause (C) or subclause (B) of clause (2) of this Section 4.10 or contained in any amendment to, or modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, replacement or extension of, an agreement referred to in subclause (A) or (B) of clause (1) of this Section 4.10 or this clause (C) or subclause (B) of clause (2) of this Section 4.10; provided, however, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such refinancing agreement or amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, replacement or extension agreement are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in such predecessor agreements;
(D) any customary encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to a merger agreement or an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;
(E) customary encumbrances and restrictions contained in agreements of the types described in the definition of the term “Permitted Business Investments;” and
(F) customary supermajority voting provisions and other customary provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets, each contained in corporate charters, bylaws, stockholders’ agreements, limited liability company agreements, partnership agreements, joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(2) with respect to clause (c) only,
(A) any such encumbrance or restriction consisting of customary nonassignment provisions (including provisions forbidding subletting or sublicensing) in leases governing leasehold interests and licenses to the extent such provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or license or the property leased, or licensed thereunder;
(B) any encumbrance or restriction contained in credit agreements, security agreements or mortgages securing Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or in Production Payments and Reserve Sales, to the extent such encumbrance or restriction restricts the transfer of the property subject to such credit agreements, security agreements or mortgages or Production Payments and Reserve Sales;
(C) encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement, instrument or Capital Stock assumed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or for which any of them becomes liable as in effect at the time of such transaction (except to the extent such agreement, instrument or Capital Stock was entered into in connection with or in contemplation of such transaction), which encumbrances and restrictions are not applicable to any assets other than assets acquired in connection with such transaction and all improvements, additions and accessions thereto and products and proceeds thereof;
(D) restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(E) encumbrances and restrictions contained in contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that do not, individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of, or from the ability of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to realize the value of, property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any manner material to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(F) restrictions on the transfer of property or assets required by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary; and
(G) customary restrictions contained in asset sale agreements limiting the transfer of such assets pending the closing of such sale.
Restricted Payments The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (a) WPZ may make Restricted Payments of Available Cash (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) with respect to any Quarter (as defined in the Partnership Agreement), (b) each of NWP and TGPL and their respective Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments to WPZ and its Subsidiaries, (c) WPZ and its Subsidiaries may make payments or other distributions to officers, directors or employees with respect to the exercise by any such Persons of options, warrants or other rights to acquire Equity Interests in WPZ or such Subsidiary issued pursuant to an employment, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plans entered into by WPZ or such Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, (d) WPZ may reimburse the General Partner for expenses pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, (e) TGPL and NWP and their Subsidiaries may distribute cash to WPZ in connection with their participation in WPZ’s cash management program and (f) any Person may be permitted to make any Restricted Payment required to effectuate a MLP Combination; provided, that even if an Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, no Subsidiary of the Borrower shall be prohibited from upstreaming dividends or other payments to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or making, in the case of any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned (directly or indirectly) by the Borrower, dividends or payments, as the case may be, to the other owners of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary; and provided, further, that, any dividends or payments by any such Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned (directly or indirectly) by the Borrower to the Borrower shall be not less than an amount equal to (x) WPZ’s direct or indirect percentage ownership of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary times (y) the amount of all such dividends and payments made to all owners of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary.
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).
Restricted Payments; Restrictive Agreements (a) Declare or make, or agree to declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment (including pursuant to any Synthetic Purchase Agreement), or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so; provided, however, that (i) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions ratably to its equity holders, (ii) so long as no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may, or the Borrower may make distributions to Holdings so that Holdings may, repurchase its Equity Interests owned by employees of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries or make payments to employees of Holdings, the Borrower or the Subsidiaries upon termination of employment in connection with the exercise of stock options, stock appreciation rights or similar equity incentives or equity based incentives pursuant to management incentive plans or in connection with the death or disability of such employees in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 in any fiscal year, (iii) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to Holdings (x) in an amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year, to the extent necessary to pay general corporate and overhead expenses incurred by Holdings in the ordinary course of business and (y) if Borrower is a member of a consolidated, combined or unitary group of which Borrower is not the common parent, in an amount necessary to pay the Tax liabilities of the common parent (the “Common Parent”) of the consolidated, combined or unitary group of which Borrower is not the common parent directly attributable to (or arising as a result of) the operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (A) the amount of such dividends shall not exceed the amount that the Borrower and the Subsidiaries would be required to pay in respect of Federal, state and local taxes were the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to pay such taxes as members of a consolidated, combined or unitary group of which Borrower is the common parent and (B) all Restricted Payments made to Holdings pursuant to this clause (iii) are used by Holdings to make Restricted Payments as specified in clause (iv) within 20 days of the receipt thereof and (iv) if Borrower is a member of a consolidated, combined or unitary group of which Borrower is not the common parent, then Holdings may make Restricted Payments to the Common Parent (x) in an amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year, to the extent necessary to pay general corporate and overhead expenses incurred by the Common Parent in the ordinary course of business and (y) in an amount necessary to pay the Tax liabilities of the Common Parent directly attributable to (or arising as a result of) the operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (A) the amount of such dividends shall not exceed the amount that the Borrower and the Subsidiaries would be required to pay in respect of Federal, state and local taxes were the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to pay such taxes as members of a consolidated, combined or unitary group of which Borrower is the common parent and (B) all Restricted Payments made to the Common Parent pursuant to this clause (iv) are used by the Common Parent for the purposes specified herein within 20 days of the receipt thereof.
(b) Enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (i) the ability of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets to secure the Obligations, or (ii) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (A) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document or any First Lien Loan Document, (B) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (C) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed on any Foreign Subsidiary by the terms of any Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary permitted to be incurred hereunder, (D) clause (i) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (E) clause (i) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.
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 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.
Dividends and Certain Other Restricted Payments No Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) declare or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions in respect of any class or series of its Equity Interests (other than dividends or distributions payable solely in its Qualified Equity Interests), (b) directly or indirectly purchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire or retire for value any of its Equity Interests, (c) make any payment of Contingent Acquisition Consideration or (d) make any voluntary prepayment on account of any Subordinated Debt or effect any voluntary redemption thereof with cash on hand and/or the proceeds of a Loan hereunder (collectively referred to herein as “Restricted Payments”); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not operate to prevent:
(i) the making of dividends or distributions by any Loan Party or Subsidiary thereof to Borrower or to any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Borrower (or, in the case of non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, to Borrower or any subsidiary that is a direct or indirect parent of such subsidiary and to each other owner of equity interests of such subsidiary on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of Borrower or such subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests);
(ii) so long as Borrower remains a pass through entity for United States federal and state income tax purposes, Borrower may pay dividends or make distributions to ATC through ATL (no more frequently than quarterly or as required by law to allow for the payment of estimated Taxes), and so long as ATC remains a pass through entity for United States federal and state income tax purposes, ATC may pay dividends or make distributions to its members, including Ultimate Parent, ATH and holders of Class B Units in ATC, in an aggregate amount for all such dividends and distributions under this clause (ii) not to exceed the product of (a) the taxable income of ATC and its Subsidiaries with respect to the applicable tax period (calculated net of any taxable losses of ATC and its Subsidiaries from the current and any prior taxable periods ending after the Closing Date to the extent available to be carried forward to offset such taxable income and not previously taken into account (assuming the direct or indirect members have no income other than through ATC and its Subsidiaries) and taking into account all available deductions or credits of ATC and its Subsidiaries) and (b) the highest maximum marginal federal, state and local income tax rates applicable to a direct or indirect member of ATC;
(iii) Restricted Payments made on or prior to December 31, 2023 to the members of ATC with respect to distributions of management fees and incentive or performance fees or allocations earned in and for calendar year 2022 to the extent required to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of ATC;
(iv) beginning after the Amendment Period End Date, the making of Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed in any fiscal year the greater of (x) $12,000,000 and (y) 17.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period, provided that (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom and (B) Ultimate Parent shall be in compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.13 on a pro forma basis (as of the fiscal quarter then last ended for which financial statements have been delivered to Administrative Agent) after giving effect to such Restricted Payment;
(i) ATC may redeem in whole or in part any of its capital stock with proceeds received by ATC from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new shares of its capital stock; provided that any terms and provisions material to the interests of the Lenders, when taken as a whole, contained in such other class of capital stock are at least as advantageous to the Lenders as those contained in the capital stock redeemed thereby and (ii) ATC and any Subsidiary may pay dividends payable solely in the capital stock of such Person;
(vi) the making of dividends by Borrower or a Holding Company to a Holding Company or Ultimate Parent, as applicable, (a) to pay operating expenses and other corporate overhead costs and expenses of any such Holding Company or Ultimate Parent, in each case, which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $3,000,000 in any fiscal year, (b) to reimburse any costs and expenses paid in cash related to administering and maintaining the provisions of the Tax Receivables Agreement (other than the payment of any tax payments thereunder or related thereto) or (c) for payments made by Ultimate Parent to the Sellers (under and as defined in the Tax Receivables Agreement);
(vii) the making of dividends by Borrower or any Holding Company to a Holding Company or Ultimate Parent, as applicable, to pay franchise taxes and other taxes and fees required to maintain such Person’s corporate existence;
(viii) the making of dividends by Borrower or any Holding Company to Ultimate Parent to pay fees and expenses (other than to any one or more Affiliates) related to an equity or debt offering of Ultimate Parent that was not consummated in an aggregate amount not to exceed $4,000,000 in any fiscal year;
(ix) the making of dividends by Borrower or any Holding Company to a Holding Company or Ultimate Parent, as applicable, in an aggregate amount to pay customary salary, bonus and other benefits to officers, employees and consultants of any such Holding Company or Ultimate Parent so long as the payment of such salaries, bonuses and other benefits are attributable solely to work performed in connection with the operation of Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(x) payment of Contingent Acquisition Consideration (A) in shares or (B) in cash, so long as in the case of sub-clause (B), no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under Section 8.1(a) or would occur as a result of such payment; and
(xi) the redemption of Equity Interests held by the Equity Investors by Ultimate Parent in accordance with the Equity Purchase Documents; provided that each such redemption is paid solely in Qualified Equity Interests of Ultimate Parent.
