FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.1
This
Forbearance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of January 16, 2008,
by and among Tekni-Plex, Inc. (the “Company”), each of the Company’s
subsidiaries identified on the signature pages hereof (the
“Subsidiaries”), the Holders of the Company’s 12 3/4% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2010 (the “Notes”) that were issued pursuant to that certain
Indenture, dated as of June 21, 2000 (as supplemented on May 6, 2002, August
22,
2002, and April 25, 2005, the “Indenture”), that are signatories hereto
(each a “Noteholder,” and collectively, the “Noteholders,” and
together with the Company, the “Parties”) and U.S. Bank, National
Association, as successor indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”)
under the Indenture.
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Noteholders collectively hold not less than $286,650,000 in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes, representing not less than 91% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes that are outstanding, and not less than
$184,250,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Notes (as defined
below), representing not less than 67% of the aggregate principal amount
of the
Second Lien Notes that are outstanding;
WHEREAS,
each of the Noteholders is represented by Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx &
Xxxxxxxx LLP (collectively, the “Noteholder Group”);
WHEREAS,
as of the date hereof, Company has failed to make the scheduled interest
payment
due under the Notes and the Indenture on December 17,
2007,
which is a Default and if not cured within thirty days thereafter will become
an
Event of Default (collectively, the “Interest Default”);
WHEREAS,
at the Company’s request, the Noteholders have agreed to forbear from
exercising, and to instruct the Indenture Trustee not to exercise, those
of the
rights and remedies available under the Indenture and/or applicable law that
have arisen or may hereafter arise, due to the occurrence and continuance
of the
Interest Default on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS,
capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Indenture.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective covenants
and
agreements set forth in this Agreement, the Parties, each intending to be
legally bound, agree as follows:
1.
Forbearance.
(a) Effective
as of the Forbearance Effective Date (as defined below), the Noteholders
agree
that, until the expiration of the Forbearance Period (as defined below),
they
(both individually and collectively) will forbear from exercising, and shall
direct the Indenture Trustee and any broker or other Person that holds the
Securities on behalf of such Noteholders, and by signature hereto so direct
the
Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 6.05 of the Indenture and such brokers
or
other Persons, not to exercise, any rights and remedies against the Company
or
the Subsidiaries that are available under the Indenture and/or applicable
law
solely with respect to the Interest
2
Default
(excluding, however, any right to default interest on the Notes (including
on
all unpaid interest on the Notes) to the extent provided under the Indenture,
during the Forbearance Period); provided, however, that nothing
herein shall restrict, impair or otherwise affect the exercise of the
Noteholders’ rights under this Agreement, and providedfurther that
no such forbearance shall constitute a waiver with respect to the Interest
Defaults or any other Events of Default under the Indenture.
(b) With
respect to the Noteholders’ holdings of Second Lien Notes, effective as of the
Forbearance Effective Date, the Noteholders agree that, until the expiration
of
the Forbearance Period (as defined below), they will (individually and
collectively) forbear from exercising, and shall direct the indenture trustee
for the Second Lien Notes (the “Second Lien Indenture Trustee”) and any
broker or other Person that holds the Securities (as defined in the Second
Lien
Indenture (as defined below)) on behalf of such Noteholders, and by signature
hereto so direct the Second Lien Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 6.05
of
the Second Lien Indenture and such brokers or other Persons, not to exercise,
any rights and remedies against the Company or the Subsidiaries that may
become
available under the Second Lien Indenture and/or applicable law solely with
respect to an Event of Default that may at some point come to exist under
Section 6.01(6) of the Second Lien Indenture in the event that the Notes
are
accelerated by the requisite Holders of the Notes or the Indenture Trustee
as a
result of the Interest Default.
(c) As
used herein, the term “Forbearance Period” shall mean the period
beginning on the date hereof and ending upon the occurrence of a Termination
Event. As used herein, “Termination Event” shall mean the
earlier to occur of (i) February 14, 2008; (ii) one Business Day after
termination of the “Waiver Period” under
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Waiver
No.
4 to the Company’s June 10, 2005 credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) and
(iii) four Business Days after the delivery by Paul, Weiss, as counsel to
the
Noteholder Group, to the Company and the Indenture Trustee of a written notice
terminating the Forbearance Period (the “Termination Notice”), which
notice may be delivered at any time but only upon or after the occurrence
of any
Forbearance Default (as defined below); provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall immediately terminate
upon
the occurrence of a Forbearance Default under subsection (H) below, without
the
need for delivery of the Termination Notice or any other notice. As
used herein, the term “Forbearance Default” shall mean: (A) the valid
acceleration of obligations arising under (i) the 8 3/4% Senior Secured Notes
due 2013 (the “Second Lien Notes”) issued pursuant to that certain
indenture dated as of November 21, 2003 (the “Second Lien Indenture”);
(ii) the 10 7/8 % Senior Secured Notes due 2012 (the “First Lien
Notes”) issued pursuant to that certain indenture dated as of June 10, 2005
(the “First Lien Indenture”); or (iii) the Credit Agreement dated as of
June 10, 2005, between the Company, as borrower, Citicorp USA, Inc. as
administrative agent, General Electric Capital Corporation as syndication
agent,
and the lenders and issuers party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”); (B)
the Company’s payment of or entry into an agreement to pay the fees or expenses
of any ad-hoc group of holders of First Lien Notes or Second Lien Notes (other
than the Noteholder Group); (C) the Company’s failure to prepare and deliver, on
or prior to January 31, 2008, to Houlihan, Lokey, Xxxxxx & Zukin Capital,
Inc. (“Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx”) and Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
LLP (“Xxxx, Xxxxx”, together with Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, the “Advisors”)
a business plan for the Company, together with supporting financial projections
and other
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information
in support thereof (collectively, the “Business Plan”); (D) the failure
of the Company, after four business days’ written notice from Paul, Weiss, as
counsel to the Noteholder Group alleging such a failure, to engage in good
faith
negotiations with the Noteholder Group regarding (i) a potential restructuring
transaction or (ii) a fee letter under which the Company agrees to
pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, financial advisor
to the
Noteholder Group, which determination shall be made by the holders of a majority
in principal amount of the Notes in good faith and their reasonable discretion;
(E) the occurrence of any Event of Default other than the Interest Default;
(F) the failure of the Company to comply with any material term, condition,
covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement; (G) the failure of any
representation or warranty made by the Company under this Agreement to be
true
and correct in all material respects as of the date when made; (H) the
commencement by or against the Company or any Subsidiary that is a Significant
Subsidiary as defined in the Indenture of a case under title 11 of the
United States Code; (I) the Company engages in any material asset sales (other
than the disposition of inventory), material sale-leaseback, or material
financing transaction (including an increase in commitment under the Credit
Agreement) without the consent of a majority in principal amount of the Notes
held by the Noteholder Group or (J) the Company pays any management, sponsor
or
consulting fees to its preferred stockholders or their affiliates.
(d) Upon
the occurrence of a Termination Event, the agreement of the Noteholders
hereunder to forbear, and to direct the Indenture Trustee and any broker
or
other Person that holds the Securities on behalf of such Noteholders, to
forbear, from exercising rights and remedies in respect of the Interest Default,
shall immediately
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terminate
without the requirement of any demand, presentment, protest, or notice of
any
kind (other than, where required, a Termination Notice), all of which the
Company and the Subsidiaries hereby waive. The Company and the
Subsidiaries agree that, upon the occurrence of, and at any time after, the
occurrence of a Termination Event, the Noteholders or the Indenture Trustee,
as
applicable, may proceed, subject to the terms of the Indenture and/or applicable
law, to exercise any or all rights and remedies under the Indenture and/or
applicable law, including, without limitation, the rights and remedies on
account of the Interest Default and any other Events of Default that may
then
exist. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon the
occurrence of a Termination Event, if any Event of Default (including the
Interest Default) exists at such time, the Noteholders or the Indenture Trustee,
as applicable, may, upon such notice or demand as is specified by the Indenture
or applicable law, and subject to the terms of the Indenture and/or applicable
law, (x) collect and/or commence any legal or other action to collect any
or all
of the Company’s or the Subsidiaries’ obligations under the Indenture or the
Subsidiary Guarantees; and (y) take any other enforcement action or otherwise
exercise any or all rights and remedies provided to them under the Indenture
and/or applicable law, all of which rights and remedies are fully
reserved.
(e) The
Company and the Subsidiaries acknowledge that the Noteholders have made no
assurances whatsoever concerning any possibility of any extension of the
Forbearance Period, any other forbearance or similar arrangement or any other
limitations on the exercise of their rights, remedies and privileges under
or
otherwise in connection with the Indenture and/or applicable law.
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(f) The
Company and the Subsidiaries acknowledge and agree that any forbearance,
waiver
or consent that the Noteholders may make on or after the date hereof has
been
made by the Noteholders in reliance upon, and in consideration for, the
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties of the Company and
the
Subsidiaries hereunder.
2.
Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective on the
first date (the “Forbearance Effective Date”) on which each of the
following conditions is satisfied and evidence of its satisfaction has been
delivered to counsel to the Noteholder Group:
(a) execution
and delivery of counterparts of this Agreement by the Noteholders, the Company
and the Subsidiaries;
(b) execution
and delivery of Xxxx, Weiss’s engagement letter by the Company, and payment to
Xxxx, Xxxxx of the retainer described therein; and
(c) payment
of $300,000 to Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx for fees and expenses through February 14,
2008.
This
Agreement shall be effective as to the Noteholders, the Company and the
Subsidiaries in accordance with Section 2 hereof
regardless of whether the Indenture Trustee executes this
Agreement. This Agreement shall be effective as to the Indenture
Trustee upon the Indenture Trustee becoming a signatory hereto.
3.
Representations, Warranties and Covenants.
(a) The
Company and the Subsidiaries represent, warrant and covenant as
follows:
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(i) Except
for the Interest Default, no other Default or Event of Default has occurred
and
is continuing.
(ii) The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Subsidiaries of
this
Agreement:
(1) are
within their corporate or limited partnership powers, as
applicable;
(2) have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited partnership action,
as applicable, including the consent of the holders of its equity interests
where required;
(3) do
not and will not (A) contravene their certificate of incorporation or by-laws
or
limited partnership or other constituent documents, (B) violate any (i)
applicable material requirement of law or (ii) material order or decree of
any
governmental authority or arbitrator applicable to them, (C) materially conflict
with or result in the breach of, or constitute a default under, or result
in or
permit the termination or acceleration of, any material contractual obligation
of the Company or the Subsidiaries, or (D) result in the creation or imposition
of any material lien or encumbrance upon any of the material property of
the
Company or the Subsidiaries; and
(4) do
not and will not require the consent of, authorization by, approval of any
governmental authority, other than those which prior to the Forbearance
Effective Date will have been obtained or made and copies of which prior
to the
Forbearance Effective Date will have been delivered to counsel to the Noteholder
Group and each of which on the Forbearance Effective Date will be in full
force
and effect or as would not be material.
(b) The
Noteholders represent as follows:
(i) As
of the date hereof, based on the representations of each of the individual
Noteholders, the Noteholders, in the aggregate, hold, with all rights, including
without limitation the right to vote, not less than $286,650,000 in principal
amount of the Notes, representing not less than 91% of the aggregate principal
amount of the Notes outstanding.
(ii) As
of the date hereof, based on the representations of each of the individual
Noteholders, the Noteholders, in the aggregate, hold, with all rights, including
without limitation the right to vote, not less than $184,250,000 in principal
amount of the Second Lien Notes,
8
representing
not less than 67% of the aggregate principal amount of the Second Lien Notes
outstanding.
4.
Ratification of Liability. The Company
and its Subsidiaries hereby ratify and reaffirm all of their payment and
performance obligations and obligations to indemnify, contingent or otherwise,
under the Indenture.
5.
Meetings/Access. The
Company agrees, commencing on the Forbearance Effective Date, to provide
the
Advisors reasonable access to its employees, officers, facilities, and books
and
records and otherwise reasonably cooperate in connection with the Advisors’ due
diligence investigation (it being understood that, prior to the delivery
of the
Business Plan, the Company’s primary focus shall be on the preparation
thereof). The Company further agrees to make its officers and
advisors available at reasonable times and places to discuss the Business
Plan
and the Company’s business and operations with the Advisors (who may be
accompanied by any Noteholders who have entered into an acceptable
confidentiality arrangement).
6.
Complete Integration; Amendments. This
Agreement constitutes the full and final agreement between the Parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and it may not be modified or amended
except by a written instrument, signed by each of the Parties, expressing
such
amendment or modification. The Parties warrant, promise and represent
that in executing this Agreement, each Party is not relying upon any oral
representation, promise or statement made by any other Party hereto and that
each Party is not relying upon any promise, statement or representation
contained in any other written instrument.
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7.
No Other Amendments; Reservation of Rights, No
Waiver. Other than as otherwise expressly provided herein, this
Agreement shall not be deemed to operate as an amendment or waiver of, or
to
prejudice, any right, power, privilege or remedy of the Noteholders or the
Indenture Trustee, as applicable, under the Indenture or applicable law,
nor
shall the entering into this Agreement preclude the Noteholders from refusing
to
enter into any further amendments or forbearances with respect to the
Indenture. Other than as expressly provided herein, this Agreement
shall not constitute a forbearance with respect to (i) any failure by the
Company to comply with any covenant or other provision in the Indenture or
(ii)
the occurrence or continuance of any present or future Event of
Default.
8.
Counterparts/Facsimile
Transmission. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each
of which, when taken together, shall be deemed an original. Execution
of this Agreement is effective if a signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission or electronic (e.g., “pdf”) transmission.
9.
Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Parties hereto and each of their respective successors, assigns,
heirs and personal representatives.
10.
Authority. Any person signing this Agreement in a
representative capacity (i) represents and warrants that he/she is
authorized to sign this Agreement on behalf of the Party he/she represents
and
that his/her signature upon this Agreement will bind the represented Party
to
the terms of this Agreement, and (ii) acknowledges that the other Party to
this Agreement has relied upon such representation and warranty.
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11.
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard
to its choice of law provisions.
12.
Remedies. All Parties hereto agree that irreparable damage
would result from any Party’s breach of this Agreement, and further agree that a
non-breaching Party would have no adequate remedy at law to redress such
breach. Therefore, the Parties hereto agree that, in the event of a
breach of this Agreement, specific performance and/or injunctive relief is
appropriate to remedy such breach. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing contained in this Section 12 shall be
deemed a waiver by any non-breaching Party hereto of any other remedies
available at law to redress any other Party’s breach of this
Agreement. Each of the rights and powers provided pursuant to this
Agreement shall be cumulative and in addition to and not in derogation of
the
rights and powers otherwise available under applicable law to the
Parties.
13.
Direction to Indenture Trustee. The Noteholders’ agreement to
forbear as provided herein shall constitute a direction from such Noteholders
to
the Indenture Trustee to similarly forbear during the Forbearance
Period.
14.
Acquisition of Additional Notes. This Agreement shall in no
way be construed to preclude any Noteholder from acquiring additional Notes
or
Second Lien Notes to the extent permitted by applicable law. However,
the Noteholder shall, automatically and without further action, remain subject
to this Agreement with respect to any Notes and Second Lien Notes so
acquired.
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15.
Limitation on and Notice of Transfers of Notes. Each of the
undersigned Noteholders hereby agrees not to sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate
or otherwise transfer, during the Forbearance Period, any Notes or Second
Lien
Notes (or any rights in respect thereof, including the right to vote) held
by
such Noteholder as of the execution date of this Agreement except to a party
who
(i) is already a signatory Noteholder under this Agreement or (ii)
contemporaneously with any such sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation,
or
transfer, agrees to be fully bound as a signatory Noteholder hereunder by
executing and delivering to the Company a joinder to this
Agreement. Any Noteholder that takes any action in violation of the
preceding sentence shall notify the Company within one Business Day
thereafter. Each of the undersigned Noteholders hereby agrees to
provide Xxxx, Xxxxx with written notice, within two business days, of any
sale,
assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other transfer, during the Forbearance
Period, of any Notes or Second Lien Notes (or any rights in respect thereof,
including the right to vote) held by such Noteholder as of the execution
date of
this Agreement.
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IN
WITNESS
WHEREOF, each of the Parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
TEKNI-PLEX,
INC.
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Title:
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Chief
Financial Officer
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SUBSIDIARIES
PURETEC
CORPORATION
XXXXXX
HOLDINGS, INC.
TRI-SEAL
HOLDINGS, INC.
PLASTIC
SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
BURLINGTON
RESINS, INC.
PLASTIC
SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGIESINVESTMENTS, INC.
DISTRIBUTORS
RECYCLING, INC.
TPI
ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.
TP/ELM
ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY, INC.,
collectively,
as Guarantors
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Title:
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Chief
Financial Officer
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THE
NOTEHOLDERS
AVENUE
INVESTMENTS, L.P.
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By:
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Avenue
Partners, LLC,
its
General Partner
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Title:
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Member
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AVENUE-CDP
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND,
L.P.
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By:
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Avenue
Global Opportunities Fund
GenPar, LLC,
its
General
Partner
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Title:
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Member
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AVENUE
INTERNATIONAL MASTER,
L.P.
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By:
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Avenue
International
Master
GenPar, Ltd.,
its
General
Partner
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Title:
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Member
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AVENUE
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND IV,
L.P.
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By:
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Avenue
Capital Partners IV, LLC, its General Partner
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By:
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GL
Partners IV, LLC,
its
General Partner
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Title:
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Member
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AVENUE
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND V,
L.P.
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By:
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Avenue
Capital Partners V, LLC,
its General Partner
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By:
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GL
Partners V,
LLC,
its
General
Partner
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Title:
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Member
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BARCLAYS
BANK,
PLC
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
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Title:
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Managing
Director
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GLENVIEW
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC,
as
investment adviser for GCM Little Arbor Partners, L.P.,
GCM
Little Arbor Institutional Partners, L.P., and
GCM
Little Arbor Master Fund,
Ltd.
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By:
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/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
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Title:
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Chief
Operating Officer and General
Counsel
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XXXXXX
XXXXXXX & CO.,
INC
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Title:
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Managing
Director
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OAKTREE
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.,
on
behalf of certain funds and accounts managed
by
it or its
affiliates
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By:
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/s/
Xxx Xxxxx
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Name:
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Xxx
Xxxxx
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Title:
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Managing
Director
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By:
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/s/
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
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Title:
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Senior
Vice President
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AGREED
TO
AND ACKNOWLEDGED
BY
THE
INDENTURE TRUSTEE
(SOLELY
WITH RESPECT TO
SECTION
13
(DIRECTION TO
INDENTURE
TRUSTEE)):
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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