Unrestricted Subsidiaries The Borrower:
(a) will cause the management, business and affairs of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary to be conducted in such a manner (including, without limitation, by keeping separate books of account, furnishing separate financial statements of Unrestricted Subsidiaries to creditors and potential creditors thereof and by not permitting Properties of the Credit Parties to be commingled) so that each Unrestricted Subsidiary will be treated as an entity separate and distinct from the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(b) will cause each Unrestricted Subsidiary (i) to refrain from maintaining its assets in such a manner that would make it costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or identify as its individual assets from those of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) to observe all corporate formalities;
(c) will not, and will not permit any other Restricted Subsidiary to, incur, assume, guarantee or be or become liable for any Debt of any of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries;
(d) will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, permit any credit agreement for a senior credit facility, a loan agreement for a senior credit facility, a note purchase agreement for the sale of promissory notes or an indenture governing capital markets debt instruments pursuant to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is a borrower, issuer or guarantor (the “Relevant Debt”), the terms of which would, upon the occurrence of a default under any Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (i) result in, or permit the holder of any Relevant Debt to declare a default on such Relevant Debt or (ii) cause the payment of any Relevant Debt to be accelerated or payable before the fixed date on which the principal of such Relevant Debt is due and payable; and
(e) will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to hold any Equity Interest in, or any Debt of, any Credit Party.
Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries The Borrower Representative may at any time after the Closing Date designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and subsequently re-designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, if other than for purposes of designating a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary that is a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with the establishment of a Qualified Receivables Financing (i) the Interest Coverage Ratio of UK Holdco and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Reference Period preceding such designation or re-designation, as applicable, would have been, on a Pro Forma Basis, at least the lesser of (x) 2.00 to 1.00 and (y) the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the most recently ended Reference Period and (ii) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom. The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date shall constitute an Investment by the applicable Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the applicable Loan Party’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s investment therein; provided that if any subsidiary (a “Subject Subsidiary”) being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary has a subsidiary that was previously designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (the “Previously Designated Unrestricted Subsidiary”) in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Investment of such Subject Subsidiary in such Previously Designated Unrestricted Subsidiary shall not be taken into account, and shall be excluded, in determining whether the Subject Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder. The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (x) the incurrence at the time of designation of Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing at such time, and (y) a return on any Investment by the applicable Loan Party or Restricted Subsidiary in Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the preceding sentence in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value at the date of such designation of such Loan Party’s or Restricted Subsidiary’s Investment in such Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, neither a Borrower nor UK Holdco shall be permitted to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary. At any time a Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder, the Borrower Representative shall cause such Subsidiary to be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or any similar applicable term) under the Senior Secured Notes.
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.07 hereof or under one or more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Company may redesignate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if that redesignation would not cause a Default. Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 4.07 hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under Section 4.09 hereof, the Company will be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.09 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable reference period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE In connection with the Owner's Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner's own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(3) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(3) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes. If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(B), (2)(D) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
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 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.
Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and the holder of such beneficial interest, in the case of an exchange, or the transferee, in the case of a transfer, certifies in the applicable Letter of Transmittal that it is not (i) a Broker-Dealer, (ii) a Person participating in the distribution of the Exchange Notes or (iii) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
(B) such transfer is effected pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement;
(C) such transfer is effected by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement; or
(D) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or
(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
