Adjusted EBITDA means, for the twelve (12) month period preceding the calculation date, for any Person, the sum of (a) Net Income, plus (b) to the extent deducted in determining Net Income, the sum, without duplication, of such Person’s (i) Interest Expense, (ii) income tax expense, including, without limitation, taxes paid or accrued based on income, profits or capital, including state, franchise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization (including, without limitation, amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets), (iv) extraordinary losses and non-recurring non-cash charges and expenses, (v) all other non-cash charges, expenses and interest (including, without limitation, any non-cash losses in respect of Hedge Agreements, non-cash impairment charges, non-cash valuation charges for stock option grants or vesting of restricted stock awards or any other non-cash compensation charges, and losses from the early extinguishment of Indebtedness), (vi) non-recurring integration costs and expenses resulting from operational changes and improvements (including, without limitation, severance costs and business optimization expenses) and (vii) non-recurring charges and expenses, restructuring charges, transaction expenses (including, without limitation, transaction expenses incurred in connection with any merger or acquisition) and underwriters’ fees, and severance and retention payments in connection with any merger or acquisition, in each case for such period, less extraordinary gains and cash payments (not otherwise deducted in determining Net Income) made during such period with respect to non-cash charges that were added back in a prior period; provided, however, (A) with respect to any Person that became a Subsidiary of the Borrower, or was merged with or consolidated into the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, during such period, or any acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the assets of any Person during such period, “Adjusted EBITDA” shall, at the option of the Borrower in respect of any or all of the foregoing, also include the Adjusted EBITDA of such Person or attributable to such assets, as applicable, during such period as if such acquisition, merger or consolidation, including any concurrent transaction entered into by such Person or with respect to such assets as part of such acquisition, merger or consolidation, had occurred on the first day of such period and (B) with respect to any Person that has ceased to be a Subsidiary of the Borrower during such period, or any material assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries sold or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries during such period, “Adjusted EBITDA” shall exclude the Adjusted EBITDA of such Person or attributable to such assets, as applicable, during such period as if such sale or disposition of such Subsidiary or such assets had occurred on the first day of such period.