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 Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) and the Company will not issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and the Company will not, and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Company may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue Disqualified Stock, and the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue Preferred Stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued, as the case may be, would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.
(b) The provisions of Section 4.09(a) hereof do not apply to the following (collectively, “Permitted Debt”):
(1) the Incurrence by the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities; provided that on the date of the Incurrence of any such Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount outstanding of all such Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (1) (together with any refinancing thereof) does not exceed the sum of: (i)(x) US$35.0 million; plus (y) US$100.0 million Incurred in respect of the Phase II Project; less (ii), in the case of clause (i)(y), the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied since the Issue Date to repay any term Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (1)(i)(y) or to repay any revolving credit indebtedness Incurred under this clause (1)(i)(y) and effect a corresponding commitment reduction thereunder pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof;
(2) the Incurrence of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (other than Additional Notes) and the Note Guarantees (other than Note Guarantees for Additional Notes) and the Intercompany Note Proceeds Loans;
(3) (a) the Incurrence by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (3)(a), not to exceed the greater of (x) an amount equal to 3.5 times the EBITDA of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the relevant time of determination and (y) US$1,200,000,000, and (b) Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date (other than the Existing Studio City Company Notes and Indebtedness described in clauses (1) and (2));
(4) the Incurrence of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, Incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of design, construction, installation or improvement of property, plant or other assets (including through the acquisition of Capital Stock of any person that owns property, plant or other assets which will, upon acquisition, become a Restricted Subsidiary) used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed the greater of (x) US$50.0 million and (y) 2.0% of Total Assets at any time outstanding;
(5) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Indenture to be Incurred under Section 4.09(a) or clauses (2), (3)(b), (4), (5) or (15) of this Section 4.09(b);
(6) (a) Obligations in respect of workers’ compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances, performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion or performance guarantees (including the guarantee of any land grant) provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Property or in the ordinary course of business and (b) Indebtedness constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit or trade or bank guarantees (including for land grants) issued in the ordinary course of business to the extent that such letters of credit, trade or bank guarantees (including for land grants) are not drawn upon or, if drawn upon, to the extent such drawing is reimbursed no later than thirty (30) days following receipt of a demand for reimbursement;
(7) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that:
(A) if the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is not the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Subsidiary Guarantor; and
(B) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (7);
(8) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that
(A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Preferred Stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and
(B) any sale or other transfer of any such Preferred Stock to a Person that is not the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such Preferred Stock by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (8).
(9) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
(10) the guarantee by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was permitted to be Incurred by another provision of this Section 4.09; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the Notes, then the guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable, to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;
(11) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is extinguished within five (5) Business Days of its Incurrence;
(12) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, agreements to pay service fees to professionals (including architects, engineers, contractors and designers) in furtherance of and/or in connection with the Property or agreements to pay fees and expenses or other amounts pursuant to the Services and Right to Use Agreement or the MSA or otherwise arising under the Services and Right to Use Agreement or the MSA in the ordinary course of business (provided, that no such agreements shall give rise to Indebtedness for borrowed money);
(13) Indebtedness arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, or from guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds, or performance bonds securing any obligation of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to such agreements, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided, that the maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received in connection with such disposition;
(14) Obligations in respect of Shareholder Subordinated Debt;
(15) any guarantees made solely in connection with (and limited in scope to) the giving of a Lien of the type specified in clause (22) of “Permitted Liens” to secure Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the only recourse of which to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is to the Equity Interests subject to the Liens;
(16) the Incurrence by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (16), not to exceed US$50.0 million; and
(17) the Incurrence by the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors of additional Indebtedness in respect of the Phase II Project in an aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (17), not to exceed the greater of (x) 75% of the EBITDA of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available (which figure shall be based on audited financial information, if for an annual period) and (y) US$350.0 million. The Company will not Incur, and will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to Incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a first or junior Lien basis. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (17) above, or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company will be permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its Incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09. Indebtedness incurred under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on the exception provided by clause (1)(x) of the definition of Permitted Debt and may not be reclassified and Indebtedness incurred under the Existing Studio City Company Notes will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on the exception provided by clause (3)(a) of the definition of Permitted Debt and may not be reclassified. The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the reclassification of Preferred Stock as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this Section 4.09; provided, in each such case, that the amount of any such accrual, accretion or payment is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.09, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may Incur pursuant to this Section 4.09 shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values. Further, for purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, to the extent the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries guarantees Indebtedness of a direct or indirect parent entity to the extent otherwise permitted by this covenant, the on-loan by such direct or indirect parent entity to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of all or a portion of the principal amount of such Indebtedness will not be double counted. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:
(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;
(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness; and
(3) in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, the lesser of:
(A) the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and
(B) the face amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person.
